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True or false: the fibers of the superior and inferior portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle run horizontally to obliquely.

User Dfc
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Final answer:

The fibers of the superior and inferior portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle run horizontally to obliquely, and this statement is true. These muscles are important for the swallowing process, assisting in the movement of food into the esophagus and the initiation of peristalsis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the fibers of the superior and inferior portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle run horizontally to obliquely is true.

These muscles play an essential role in the process of swallowing, or deglutition. During swallowing, as food passes through the oropharynx and laryngopharynx, the pharyngeal constrictor muscles contract to move the bolus into the esophagus and initiate peristalsis.

This muscular action is part of a coordinated sequence that includes raising of the pharynx, closing off the nasopharynx to prevent the entry of food into the nasal cavities, and the subsequent relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter to permit the bolus to enter the esophagus.

User Chancea
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Final answer:

The statement that the fibers of the superior and inferior portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle run horizontally to obliquely is true. These muscles play a vital role in the swallowing process by constricting the pharynx to push the food bolus towards the esophagus.

Step-by-step explanation:

True or false: the fibers of the superior and inferior portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle run horizontally to obliquely. The statement is true. The pharyngeal constrictor muscles are crucial in the process of swallowing, or deglutition. The pharynx, which these muscles encircle, facilitates both breathing and digestion by connecting the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus.

The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is the lowest part of the pharyngeal constrictors and is responsible for constricting the pharynx during swallowing. The muscle fibers of this constrictor muscle do indeed run in a horizontal to oblique direction, which allows them to effectively decrease the diameter of the pharynx and push the food bolus towards the esophagus.

The action of these muscles is part of a complex neuromuscular function that is controlled by the medulla oblongata. During the act of swallowing, various phases of muscle contraction and relaxation occur, leading to the peristaltic movement that propels the food bolus from the oropharynx through the laryngopharynx and into the esophagus.

User Jaxian
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