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:

• Inferior constrictor muscle
• Middle constrictor muscle
• Superior constrictor muscle

During swallowing, these muscles constrict to propel bolus downwards (an involuntary process).