The pharynx Safronova Vera 143

The pharynx is… muscular, cone-shaped passageway length from 12 to 14 cm, in which the crossing of the digestive and respiratory tracts The pharynx has roughly the form of a flattened funnel.

structure There are three main divisions of the pharynx: the oral pharynx, the nasal pharynx, and the laryngeal pharynx. The latter two are airways, whereas the oral pharynx is shared by both the respiratory and digestive tracts

nasopharynx The upper portion of the pharynx, the nasopharynx, extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate. It includes the space between the internal nares and the soft palate and lies above the oral cavity. The adenoids are lymphoid tissue structures located in the posterior wall of the nasopharynx.

oropharynx The part of the throat at the back of the mouth behind the oral cavity. It includes the back third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils.

laryngopharynx The laryngopharynx, is the caudal part of the pharynx; it is the part of the throat that connects to the esophagus. It lies inferior to the epiglottis and extends to the location where this common pathway diverges into the respiratory (larynx) and digestive (esophagus) pathways.

functions The pharynx permits the passage of swallowed solids and liquids into the esophagus, and gullet, and conducts air to and from the trachea, or windpipe, during respiration The pharynx provides equalization of air pressure on the eardrum membrane

disease Tonsillitis - is inflammation of the tonsils most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection. Tonsillitis is common, especially in children. The condition can occur occasionally or recur frequently.

disease Pharyngitis - is the inflammation of the pharynx, a region in the back of the throat. In most cases it is painful, and it is the most common cause of a sore throat. The majority of cases are due to an infectious organism acquired from close contact with an infected individual.

disease Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth and lips In its widest meaning, stomatitis can have a multitude of different causes and appearances. Common causes include infections, nutritional deficiencies, allergic reactions, radiotherapy, and many others.

interesting fact All vertebrates have a pharynx. The structure of the pharynx varies across the vertebrates. Horses are unable to breathe through the mouth as the free apex of the rostral epiglottis lies dorsal to the soft palate in a normal horse