Pharynx
The
pharynx (plural:
pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately
posterior to the
mouth and
nasal cavity, and
cranial to the
esophagus,
larynx, and
trachea. It is part of the
digestive system and
respiratory system of many organisms.
Because both
food and
air pass through the pharynx, special adaptations are necessary to prevent
choking or
aspiration when food or liquid is
swallowed. In
humans the pharynx is important in
vocalisation.
Reference:
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Stedman's Online Medical Dictionary, 27th EditionThe human pharynx is conventionally divided into three sections:
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Nasopharynx, lying behind the
nasal cavity. Postero-superiorly this extends from the level of the junction of the hard and soft palates to the base of skull, laterally to include the fossa of Rosenmuller. The inferior wall consists of the superior surface of the soft palate.
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Oropharynx, which lies behind the
oral cavity. The
anterior wall consists of the base of the
tongue and the
vallecula; the
lateral wall is made up of the
tonsil,
tonsillar fossa, and tonsillar (faucial) pillars; the
superior wall consists of the inferior surface of the
soft palate and the
uvula.
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Hypopharynx, also known as the
laryngopharynx, which includes the pharyngo-oesophageal junction (postcricoid area), the piriform sinus, and the posterior pharyngeal wall. Like the oropharynx above it the hypopharynx serves as a passageway for food and air and is lined with a stratified squamous epithelium. It lies directly posterior to the upright epiglottis and extends to the larynx, where the respiratory and digestive pathways diverge. At that point the laryngopharynx is continuous with the esophpagus posteriorly. The esophagus conducts food and fluids to the
stomach; air enters the larynx anteriorly. During swallowing, food has the "right of way", and air passage temporarily stops.
Human Anatomy and Physiology Elaine N. Marieb and Katja Hoehn, Seventh Edition.
TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours Sobin LH & Wittekind Ch (eds)Sixth edition UICC 2002 ISBN 0471222887
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Adenoid*
Eustachian tube*
Hyoid*
Larynx*
Tonsil*
Uvula*
