Pharynx
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
Pharynx | |
---|---|
pharyngeal branches of inferior thyroid | |
Vein | pharyngeal plexus |
Nerve | pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, maxillary nerve, mandibular nerve |
Identifiers | |
Latin | pharynx |
Greek | φάρυγξ (phárynx) |
MeSH | D010614 |
TA98 | A05.3.01.001 |
TA2 | 2855 |
FMA | 46688 |
Anatomical terminology] |
The pharynx (pl.: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its structure varies across species. The pharynx carries food to the esophagus and air to the larynx. The flap of cartilage called the epiglottis stops food from entering the larynx.
In humans, the pharynx is part of the
In humans, two sets of pharyngeal muscles form the pharynx and determine the shape of its lumen. They are arranged as an inner layer of longitudinal muscles and an outer circular layer.
Structure
Nasopharynx
The upper portion of the pharynx, the nasopharynx, extends from the base of the
The anterior aspect of the nasopharynx communicates through the
- the salpingopharyngeal fold, a vertical fold of mucous membrane extending from the inferior part of the torus and containing the salpingopharyngeus muscle
- the salpingopalatine fold, a smaller fold, in front of the salpingopharyngeal fold, extending from the superior part of the torus to the palate and containing the tensor veli palatiniis lateral to the levator and does not contribute to the fold, since the origin is deep to the cartilaginous opening.
Oropharynx
The oropharynx lies behind the oral cavity, extending from the
The HACEK organisms (
Laryngopharynx
The laryngopharynx, (
The vascular supply to the laryngopharynx includes the
Function
The pharynx moves food from the mouth to the esophagus. It also moves air from the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx. It is also used in human speech, as pharyngeal consonants are articulated here, and it acts as a resonating chamber during phonation.
Clinical significance
Inflammation
Inflammation of the pharynx, or pharyngitis, is the painful inflammation of the throat.
Pharyngeal cancer
Waldeyer's tonsillar ring
Waldeyer's tonsillar ring is an anatomical term collectively describing the annular arrangement of lymphoid tissue in the pharynx. Waldeyer's ring circumscribes the naso- and oropharynx, with some of its tonsillar tissue located above and some below the soft palate (and to the back of the oral cavity). It is believed that Waldeyer's ring prevents the invasion of microorganisms from going into the air and food passages and this helps in the defense mechanism of the respiratory and alimentary systems.[7]
Etymology
The word pharynx (/ˈfærɪŋks/[8][9]) is derived from the Greek φάρυγξ phárynx, meaning "throat". Its plural form is pharynges /fəˈrɪndʒiːz/ or pharynxes /ˈfærɪŋksəz/, and its adjective form is pharyngeal (/ˌfærɪnˈdʒiːəl/ or /fəˈrɪndʒiəl/).
Other vertebrates
All vertebrates have a pharynx, used in both feeding and respiration. The pharynx arises during development in all vertebrates through a series of six or more outpocketings on the lateral sides of the head. These outpocketings are
Pharyngeal arches
Pharyngeal arches are characteristic features of vertebrates whose origin can be traced back through
Pharyngeal jaws
Invertebrates
Invertebrates also have a pharynx. Invertebrates with a pharynx include the tardigrades,[12] annelids and arthropods,[13] and the priapulids (which have an eversible pharynx).[14]
The "pharynx" of the nematode worm is a muscular food pump in the head, triangular in cross-section, that grinds food and transports it directly to the intestines. A one-way valve connects the pharynx to the excretory canal.
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Everted pharynx of Alitta virens (also known as Nereis virens), lateral view
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Pharynx of the flatworm Prorhynchus fontinalis
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Pharynx of the flatworm Platydemus manokwari visible as the worm feeds on a snail.
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Longitudinal section through the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans showing the position of the pharynx in the animal body.
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Microscopic cross section through the pharynx of a larva from an unknown lamprey species.
Additional images
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Nose and nasal
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Coronal section of right ear, showing auditory tube and levator veli palatinimuscle
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The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind
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Deep dissection of human larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind
-
The nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx or larynx can be seen clearly in this sagittal section of the head and neck.
See also
- Cricopharyngeal ligament
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- Pharyngeal aspiration
- Pharyngeal consonant
- Pharyngeal (disambiguation)
- Saccopharynx, a genus of deep-sea eel-like fishes with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long scaleless bodies
- Salpinx in anatomy
- Tonsil
- Tornwaldt cyst
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1141 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ Fasick J (2006). Respiratory Syster (PDF). Benjamin Cummings (Pearson Education, Inc). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2014.
- ^ Clinical Head and Neck and Functional Neuroscience Course Notes, 2008-2009, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
- .
- ^ "The Pharynx". TeachMeAnatomy. 28 July 2013.
- S2CID 11122488.
- PMID 15358827.
- ^ "Pharynx". Earth's Lab. 8 August 2018.
- OED2nd edition, 1989.
- ^ Entry "pharynx" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, retrieved 2012-07-28.
- PMID 23020903.
- S2CID 4384411.
- .
- .
- JSTOR 3225549.
General
- Pharynx, Stedman's Online Medical Dictionary at Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
- 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
External links
- Anatomy photo:31:st-1401 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy photo:31:st-1403 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy photo:31:st-1406 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center