Introduction
The pharynx is the section between the oral cavity and the oesophagus or trachea. It is divided into different levels, serves for the transport of food and is part of the respiratory tract. It is also colloquially known as the upper airway.
Due to the upright posture of the human being, the throat is more curved than in other mammals. This makes the danger of swallowing much greater. The throat also contains a lot of lymphatic tissue and is therefore an important part of the immune system.
Anatomy Throat
The pharynx is an approx. 12-15cm long muscle tube and is separated from the oral cavity by the base of the tongue and the palatal arch. The pharynx is connected to the nasal cavity by the choanas (nasopharyngeal passage).
The pharynx leads down to the larynx, which is located in front (ventrally) and is connected to the windpipe (trachea). At the back (dorsal) the pharynx merges into the esophagus. The throat itself is divided into three levels:
- On the one hand, the nasopharynx (Pars nasalis pharyngis, nasopharynx or epipharynx) in the area of the transition from the nasal cavity to the oral cavity.
The choanas are the anterior opening that connects the pharynx with the nasal cavity. At the upper pharyngeal wall (Fornix pharyngis), which borders on the base of the skull, lies the unpaired Tonsilla pharyngealis. It is part of the immune system.
To the side of this tonsil are the two orifices of the auditory tubae. The openings of these tonsils provide the connection between the nasopharynx and the tympanic cavity and thus serve to ventilate the middle ear.
- This is followed by the oral pharynx (Pars oralis pharyngis, oropharynx or mesopharynx), which is bounded by various structures. The two palatal arches represent the anterior transition between the oral pharynx and the oral cavity.
The base of the tongue, the palatal muscles and the adjacent pharyngeal muscles form the constriction, the isthmus faucium. The soft palate (velum palatinum) forms the upper (cranial) border of the mouth pharynx. The lower (caudal) border is formed by the upper edge of the epiglottis.
- At the mouth-fish, the pharynx (Pars laryngea pharyngis, Laryngopharnyx or Hypopharynx) follows.
This then merges into the larynx, or esophagus. The epiglottis represents the upper limit. The laryngeal entrance (Aditus laryngis) represents the anterior (ventral) entrance to the larynx and thus the anterior boundary of the laryngopharynx. The transition into the esophagus is located at the back (dorsal) in the area of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx.