Dictionary Definition
pharynx n : the passage to the stomach and lungs;
in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the
collarbone [syn: throat]
[also: pharynges
(pl)]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
Via from .Noun
- The part of the alimentary canal that extends from the mouth and nasal cavities to the larynx, where it becomes continuous with the esophagus.
Derived terms
Translations
part of alimentary canal
Extensive Definition
The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of
the neck and throat situated immediately
posterior to (behind)
the mouth and nasal
cavity, and
cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
Because both food and air
pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the
epiglottis closes
over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or aspiration.
In humans the pharynx is
important in vocalization.
Parts
The human pharynx is conventionally divided into three sections:Oropharynx
The oropharynx 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.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.
Laryngopharynx
The laryngopharynx, also known as the hypopharynx, roughly corresponds to the levels between C3 to C6, it includes the pharyngo-esophageal 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 anterior 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 esophagus 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.
Additional images...
Image:Illu conducting passages.jpg|Conducting
passages. Image:Illu dige tract.jpg|Organs of the digestive
system.
References
- 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 0-471-22288-7