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.