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The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
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It is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.
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.
The human pharynx is conventionally divided into three sections:
The nasopharynx lies 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.
The hypopharynx, laryngopharynx 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.
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Conducting passages. |
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The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind. |
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Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx. |
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The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind. |
Look up Pharynx in
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| Anatomy: respiratory system |
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| Nose • Nasal cavity • Pharynx • Larynx • Trachea • Lungs • Bronchi • Alveoli • Conducting zone • Respiratory zone |
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia
