Sternum

o    Forms the medial part of the anterior chest wall
o    Manubrium (upper part)-clavicle and first rib articulate with the manubrium .
o    Body (middle blade)-second and tenth ribs articulate with the body via the costal cartilages
o    Xiphoid (blunt cartilaginous tip)

Ribs (12 pairs)

o    Each rib articulates with both the body and the transverse process of its corresponding
o    thoracic vertebra
o    The second to ninth ribs articulate with the body of the vertebra above'
o    Ribs curve outward, forward, and then downward
o    Anteriorly, each of the first seven ribs joins a costal cartilage that attaches to the sternum
o    Next three ribs (eighth to tenth) join the cartilage of the rib above
o    Eleventh and twelfth ribs do not attach to the sternum; are called "floating ribs"

EPITHELIUMS

Epithelial Tissue Epithelial tissue covers surfaces, usually has a basement membrane, has little extracellular material, and has no blood vessels. A basement membrane attaches the epithelial cells to underlying tissues. Most epithelia have a free surface, which is not in contact with other cells. Epithelia are classified according to the number of cell layers and the shape of the cells.

• Epitheliums contain no blood vessels.  There is normally an underlying layer of connective tissue
• Almost all epitheliums lie on a basement membrane.The basement membrane consists of  a basal lamina and  reticular lamina. The reticular lamina is connected to the basal lamina by anchoring fibrils. The reticular lamina may be absent in which case the basement membrane consist only of a basal lamina. The basal lamina consists of a   - lamina densa in the middle (physical barrier) with a lamina lucida on both sides (+charge barrier),The basement membrane is absent in ependymal cells.The basement membrane is not continuous in sinusoidal capillaries.

• Epitheliums always line or cover something
• Epithelial cells lie close together with little intercellular space
• Epithelial cells are strongly connected to one another especially those epitheliums that are subjected to mechanical forces.  

Functions of Epithelium:

→ Simple epithelium involved with diffusion, filtration, secretion, or absorption

→ Stratified epithelium protects from abrasion

→ Squamous cells function in diffusion or filtration

• This is the posterior curtain-like part, and has no bony support. It does, however, contain a membranous aponeurosis.
• The soft palate, or velum palatinum (L. velum, veil), is a movable, fibromuscular fold that is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.
• It extends posteroinferiorly to a curved free margin from which hangs a conical process, the uvula (L. uva, grape).

• The soft palate separates the nasopharynx superiorly and the oropharynx inferiorly.

• During swallowing the soft palate moves posteriorly against the wall of the pharynx, preventing the regurgitation of food into the nasal cavity.

• Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with the wall of the pharynx and is joined to the tongue and pharynx by the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

• The soft palate is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle.
• This aponeurosis attaches to the posterior margin of the hard palate.

Internal Muscles of the Pharynx

• The internal, chiefly longitudinal muscular layer, consists of 3 muscles: stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus.
• They all elevate the larynx and pharynx during swallowing and speaking.

The Stylopharyngeus Muscle

• This is a long, thin, conical muscles that descends inferiorly between the external and internal carotid arteries.
• It enters the wall of the pharynx between the superior and middle constrictor muscles.

• Origin: styloid process of temporal bone.
• Insertion: posterior and superior borders of thyroid cartilage with palatopharyngeus muscle.
• Innervation: glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).

• It elevates the pharynx and larynx and expands the sides of the pharynx, thereby aiding in pulling the pharyngeal wall over a bolus of food.

The Palatopharyngeus Muscle

• This is a thin muscle and the overlying mucosa form the palatopharyngeal arch.

The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle

• This is a slender muscle that descends in the lateral wall of the pharynx.
• The over lying mucous membrane forms the salpingopharyngeal fold.

• Origin: cartilaginous part of the auditory tube.
• Insertion: blends with palatopharyngeus muscle.
• Innervation: through the pharyngeal plexus.

• It elevates the pharynx and larynx and opens the pharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube during swallowing.

Geniohyoid Muscle

• Origin: Inferior genial tubercles of the mandible.
• Insertion: Anterior surface of the body of the hyoid bone.
• Nerve Supply: Branch of C1 through the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
• Arterial Supply: Sublingual branch of the lingual artery.
• Action: Elevates the hyoid bone and depresses the mandible.