PHARYNGEAL ARCHES

Dr.Jagadeesh
 Pharyngeal arches
Cranial most part of foregut is called
primitive pharynx
Primitive pharynx lies just caudal to
stomodeum
Primitive pharynx is initially separated
from the stomodeum by
buccopharyngeal membrane
Endoderm of primitive pharynx is
separated from the surface ectoderm
by thin layer of mesoderm
Series of mesodermal thickenings
appear on the lateral wall of primitive
pharynx
These mesodermal thickenings are
called pharyngeal (branchial) arches
 Pharyngeal arches are 6 on
each lateral wall of primitive
pharynx
Each arch contains central
core of mesoderm which is
derived from paraxial and
lateral plate mesoderm
Each arch is covered on the
outer surface by the
ectoderm and lined on the
inner side by the endoderm
Pharyngeal arches separated
externally from each other by
pharyngeal grooves (clefts)
Pharyngeal arches separated
internally from each other by
pharyngeal pouches
5th pharyngeal arch soon
degenerates after its
formation
Pharyngeal arches
Pharyngeal pouch
1. Pharyngeal arches
2. Lens placode
3. Pericardial swelling
4. Pharyngeal clefts
5. Hand bud
 Each arch contains
Mesoderm:
which develops into
Muscles
Cartilage (skeletal element):
which develops into bones
Nerve: supplies
muscles developing from the
mesoderm of the arch
skin developing from the
ectoderm of the arch
mucous membrane developing
from the endoderm of the arch
Aortic arch artery:
develop into arteries
FIRST PHARYNGEAL ARCH
 First pharyngeal arch
First pharyngeal arch is called the
mandibular arch
First arch gives 2 process
mandibular process and maxillary
process
Structures derived from the first
arch:
Structures developing from the
cartilage of 1st arch (Meckels
cartilage):
Incus and malleus bones of middle
ear
Sphenomandibular ligament and
anterior ligament of malleus
 Structures developing from the mesoderm of 1st
arch:
Muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis,
medial and lateral pterygoids)
Tensor tympani, tensor palati, mylohyoid and
anterior belly of digastric
Maxilla, mandible, zygomatic bone, palatine bone,
part of temporal bone
Nerve of the arch:
Mandibular nerve is the pretrematic nerve of 1st
arch
Chorda tympani branch of facial nerve is post
trematic nerve of 1st arch
1st aortic arch artery:
Forms part of maxillary artery
Pharyngeal arch derivatives
SECOND PHARYNGEAL ARCH
 Second pharyngeal arch
2nd pharyngeal arch is called hyoid arch
Structures derived from the 2nd arch:
Structures developing from the cartilage
of 2nd arch (Reicherts cartilage):
Stapes bone of middle ear
Styloid process, stylohyoid ligament
Lesser cornu and upper part of body of
hyoid bone
 Structures developing from the mesoderm of
2nd arch:
Muscles of face
Muscles of auricle (auricularis anterior,
auricularis superior and auricularis posterior)
Muscles of scalp (occipito-frontalis)
Platysma, stapedius, posterior belly of digastric
and stylohyoid
Nerve of the arch:
Facial nerve is the nerve of 2nd arch
2nd aortic arch artery:
Forms hyoid artery and stapedial artery which
degenerates in the adults
THIRD PHARYNGEAL ARCH
 Third pharyngeal arch
Structures derived from the third arch:
Structures developing from the cartilage of 3rd arch:
Greater cornu of hyoid bone
Lower part of body of hyoid bone
Structures developing from the mesoderm of 3rd
arch:
Stylopharyngeus muscle
Nerve of the arch:
Glossopharyngeal nerve is the nerve of 3rd arch
3rd aortic arch artery:
Forms common carotid artery and part of internal carotid
artery
FOURTH AND SIXTH
PHARYNGEAL ARCHES
 Fourth and sixth pharyngeal arches
Structures derived from the fourth and sixth
arches:
Structures developing from the cartilage of 4th
and 6th arches:
Cartilages of larynx thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid,
epiglottic, cuneiform and corniculate cartilages
Structures developing from the mesoderm of
4th arch:
Muscles of pharynx, soft palate and cricothyroid
Structures developing from the mesoderm of
6th arch:
Intrinsic muscles of larynx except cricothyroid
 Nerve of the 4th arch: superior laryngeal
nerve
Nerve of the 6th arch: recurrent laryngeal
nerve
4th aortic arch artery:
Of the right side forms right subclavian
artery
Of the left side forms arch of aorta
6th aortic arch artery:
On the right side forms right pulmonary
artery
On the left side forms left pulmonary artery
and ductus arteriosus
PHARYNGEAL POUCHES
Pharyngeal pouches
 Pharyngeal pouches
Pharyngeal arches are
separated internally from
each other by pharyngeal
pouches
Pharyngeal pouches are lined
by endoderm
Pharyngeal pouches are 5 in
number
5th pharyngeal pouch is
rudimentary and considered
as part of 4th pouch
Endoderm lining the pouch
develops into many
structures
 Fate of pharyngeal pouches
First pharyngeal pouch:
Dorsal part of 1st pouch along with
dorsal part of 2nd pouch forms a
stalk like diverticulum called
tubotympanic recess
Tubotympanic recess comes in
contact with first pharyngeal cleft
Lateral part of tubotympanic recess
becomes wide and forms Tympanic
cavity, mastoid antrum,mastoid air
cells and mucous layer of tympanic 1. External auditory meatus
membrane. 2. Auditory tube
Medial part of tubotympanic recess 3. Primary tympanic cavity
remains narrow and forms auditory 4. Cervical sinus
tube 5. Inferior parathyroid gland
Tympanic membranic is formed 6. Thymus
where tubotympanic recess touches 7. Palatine tonsil
the 1st pharyngeal cleft 8. Superior parathyroid gland
9. Ultimobranchial body
 Second pharyngeal pouch:
Dorsal part takes part in the formation of tubotympanic
recess along with dorsal part of 1st pouch
Endoderm of ventral part forms palatine tonsil
Third pharyngeal pouch:
Develops into thymus and inferior parathyroid gland
Fourth pharyngeal pouch:
Forms superior parathyroid gland
Forms parafollicular cells thyroid gland along the
rudimentary 5th pouch
Fifth pharyngeal pouch:
Is rudimentary
Along with the part of 4th pouch it forms ultimobranchial
body which gives origin to parafollicular cells of thyroid
gland
FATE OF PHARYNGEAL
CLEFTS
 Fate of pharyngeal clefts
Pharyngeal arches are separated
externally by pharyngeal clefts or grooves
Pharyngeal clefts are lined by ectoderm
First pharyngeal cleft:
Ectoderm over 1st arch forms skin over
lower jaw, upper jaw, and tragus of
auricle.
Ectoderm over mandibular and
maxillary process forms upper lip and
lower lip.
Then alveolabial sulcus forms, inner
lining of the sulcus forms mucosa of
jaws and dental lamina.
Dorsal part of 1st cleft forms epithelial
lining of external acoustic meatus and
cuticular layer of tympanic membrane.
Other clefts:
Projection arising from the 2nd pharyngeal
arch grows down over the lower
pharyngeal arches
 The space called cervical sinus separates this
projection from the 3rd, 4th and 6th arches
This projection will fuse with the tissues lying
caudal to the arches
The other arches and clefts become buried by
the downward projection of 2nd arch, and side of
neck becomes smooth
The cavity of cervical sinus normally disappears,
sometimes part of it may persist and give rise to
swelling in the neck called branchial cysts
If such a cyst opens on the surface on the neck,
then its called branchial sinus
 Epicardial ridge extends from caudal end
of pre muscle tissue to the ventral end of
1st arch.
3rd and 4th occipital myotomes migrate
through epicardial rigde and forms the
tounge muscle.
Pre muscle tissue forms
sternocledomastoid and trapezius muscle.
 Structures developing the in the floor of
primitive pharynx
Floor of primitive pharynx at the first pharyngeal arch
shows 3 enlargements
Median swelling called tuberculum impar
2 lateral lingual swelings
These swellings fuse to form anterior two-third of tongue
Just caudal to tuberculum impar floor of primitive
pharynx shows thickening in the midline
This thickening forms thyroglossal duct which form
thyroid gland
Floor of primitive pharynx at the region of 3rd and 4th
pharyngeal arches shows a bulging called hypobranchial
eminence (copula)
 Tongue Development
These 3 drawings are viewed from inside
the pharynx looking at the floor of the
pharynx.

Mesodermal swellings in pharynx floor are covered with

endoderm.
Foramen caecum is the site of initial thyroid cell descent into
the hypopharyngeal eminence.
 In the midline on the surface
is a depression called the
median sulcus.
Lateral lingual swellings have fused and
overgrown medial and 2nd arch
components.
Oral part is anterior 2/3
Pharyngeal part is posterior 1/3
Circumvillate papilla lie just
anterior to terminal sulcus.
(Modified from Kaufman and
Bard, 1999)
Floor of primitive pharynx
 This hypobranchial eminence is divided in to cranial and
caudal parts
Cranial part of hyphobranchial eminence grows cranially
over the 2nd arch, joins lateral lingual swellings and
tuberculum impar and forms posterior one-third of
tongue
Caudal part of hypobranchial eminence forms epiglottis
Tracheobronchial groove appears in the floor of primitive
pharynx caudal to hypobranchial eminence
This grows downs, elongates to form respiratory
diverticulum
Respiratory diverticulum forms parts of the respiratory
system like larynx, trachea, bronchial tree and lungs
Pharyngeal pouches

1. External auditory meatus

2. Auditory tube
3. Primary tympanic cavity
4. Cervical sinus
5. Inferior parathyroid gland
6. Thymus
7. Palatine tonsil
8. Superior parathyroid gland
9. Ultimobranchial body
Pharyngeal pouches

1. Auditory tube
2. Foramen cecum
3. Palatine tonsil
4. Ventral syde of pharynx
5. Tympanic cavity
6. Thyroid gland
7. Ultimobranchial body
8. Foregut
9. Thymus
10. Inferior parathyroid gland
11. Superior parathyroid gland
12. External auditory meatus
Thank you