The middle pharyngeal constrictor is a muscle located in the throat that helps with swallowing. Although there are no common synonyms for this specific muscle, the pharynx itself is sometimes called the throat. Other muscles in the pharynx that help with swallowing include the superior pharyngeal constrictor and the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. Additionally, the term "pharyngeal muscles" may be used to refer to any of the muscles located in the pharynx, including the middle pharyngeal constrictor. While there is much overlap and interconnectivity between all of the muscles that work together in the pharynx, each muscle serves a unique and important purpose in the act of swallowing.