Anatomy of pharynx

 The pharynx is situated behind the nasal cavities, the mouth, and
the larynx
 Passageway for food and air
 About 12–14 cm long
 The pharynx is funnel shaped, its upper, wider end lying under the
skull
 Lower, narrow end become continuous with the esophagus
opposite the 6th cervical vertebra
  Superiorly – the inferior surface of the base of the skull
 Inferiorly – it is continuous with the oesophagus
Boundaries of  Anteriorly – the wall is incomplete because of the openings into
pharynx the nose, mouth and larynx
 Posteriorly – areolar tissue, involuntary muscle and the bodies of
the first six cervical vertebrae
  The pharynx is divided into three parts:
Interior of the  the nasal pharynx

Pharynx  the oral pharynx

 the laryngeal pharynx
  The nasal part of the pharynx lies behind the nose above the level of
the soft palate.
The  On its lateral walls are the two openings of the auditory tubes
connecting to each middle ear.
nasopharynx:  On the posterior wall are the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) that
consist of lymphoid tissue.
 Adenoids are most prominent in children up to approximately 7
years of age. Thereafter they gradually atrophy.
  The oral part of the pharynx lies behind the mouth
 extending from below the level of the soft palate to the level of the
The upper part of the body of the 3rd cervical vertebra.
 The floor is formed by the posterior one third of the tongue and the
oropharynx: interval between the tongue and epiglottis
 The lateral walls of the pharynx blend with the soft palate to form
two folds on each side
 Between each pair of folds is a collection of lymphoid tissue called
the palatine tonsil
 During swallowing, the soft palate and uvula are pushed upwards,
sealing off the nasal cavity and preventing the entry of food and
fluids
  The laryngeal part of the pharynx extends from the oropharynx
The above and continues as the oesophagus below
laryngopharynx  The larynx lying anterior to it
  Muscles with circular orientation of fibers:
 Superior constrictor muscles
 Middle constrictor muscles
 Inferior constrictor muscles
Muscles of the  Muscles with longitudinal orientation of fibers:
Pharynx  Stylopharyngeus muscle
 Salpingopharyngeus muscles
 Cricopharyngeus
 Palatopharyngeus
 Muscle name Action

Action of  Superior constrictor

 Aids soft palate in closing off
nasal pharynx, propels bolus
muscles of downward

pharynx  Middle constrictor  Propels bolus downward

 Inferior constrictor  Propels bolus downward
 Cricopharyngeus  Sphincter at lower end of
pharynx
Muscle name Action

 Elevates larynx during

 Stylopharyngeus swallowing

 Elevates pharynx
 Salpingopharyngeus
 Elevates wall of pharynx,
 Palatopharyngeus
pulls palatopharyngeal arch
medially
  Nasal pharynx: The maxillary nerve (V2)
 Oral pharynx: The glossopharyngeal nerve
 Laryngeal pharynx: The internal laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve
Nerve supply  Parasympathetic supply is by the vagus and glossopharyngeal
nerves
 Sympathetic supply is by nerves from the superior cervical ganglia
  Passageway for air and food
 The pharynx is involved in both the respiratory and the digestive
systems
 Warming and humidifying of inhaling air
Functions  By the same methods as in the nose, the air is further warmed and
moistened as it passes towards the lungS
 Hearing
 Help in maintain air pressure in the middle ear
 Protection:
 The lymphatic tissue of the pharyngeal and laryngeal tonsils
produces antibodies in response to swallowed or inhaled antigens
 Speech:
 The pharynx functions in speech; by acting as a resonating chamber
for sound ascending from the larynx, it helps (together with the
sinuses) to give the voice its individual characteristics.