The
pharyngeal muscles are a group of muscles that form the
pharynx, determining the shape of its
lumen. The pharyngeal muscles contracts pushing the food into the
oesophagus. There are two muscular layers of the
pharynx: the outer circular layer and the inner longitudinal layer. The outer circular layer includes:
During
swallowing, these muscles constrict to propel bolus downwards (an involuntary process).