Pharynx

Objectives;
• Define pharynx
• Identify location of pharynx
• List parts of pharynx
• Structure of pharynx
• Functions of pharynx
• Dual functions
•
 Definition
• Pharynx (throat); is a passageway about 12-14
cm long.
 Location of pharynx
• It extends from the posterior nares,
• Runs behind the mouth and the larynx to the
level of the 6th thoracic vertebra where it
becomes the oesophagus.
Structure associated with pharynx.
• Superiorly (upper part of the body); the inferior
surface of the base of the skull.
• Inferiorly (lower part of the body); it opens into
the trachea and the oesophagus.
• Anteriorly; the wall is incomplete because of
the openings into the nose and mouth.
• Posteriorly (front of the body) ;areolar tissue,
smooth muscle and the bodies of the 1st 6
cervical vertebrae.
 Three parts of pharynx
• Nasopharynx
• Oropharynx
• laryngopharynx
 The nasopharynx
• (nasal part of the pharynx) it lies behind the
nose above the level of the soft palate.
• On its lateral walls, are the two openings of
the auditory tubes one leading to each middle
ear.
• On the posterior wall is the pharyngeal tonsil,
most prominent in children up to
approximately 7 years of age. Thereafter it
gradually atrophies.
 The oropharynx
• (oral part of the pharynx) lies behind the
mouth, extending from below the level of the
soft palate to the level of the upper part of the
body of the 3rd cervical vertebra.
• The lateral walls of the pharynx blend with
the soft palate to form two folds on each side
(between each pair of folds is the palatine
tonsil).
 The oropharynx cont…
• During swallowing, the soft palate and uvula
are pushed upwards, sealing off the nasal
cavity and preventing the entry of food and
fluids into the respiratory tract.
 The laryngopharynx
• The laryngopharynx; the laryngeal part extends
from the oropharynx above and opens, into the
larynx at the top of the trachea.
• Behind the larynx it continues as the
oesophagus, the passageway to the stomach.
• Laryngeal part of the pharynx extends from the
oropharynx above and continues as the
oesophagus below with the larynx lying
anteriorly.
 structure
 The walls of the pharynx contain several types of tissue.
• Mucous membrane lining
 The mucosa varies slightly in the different regions .
 In the nasopharynx it is continuous with the lining of the
nose and consists of ciliated columnar epithelium .
 The oropharynx and larypharynx are lined with stratified
squamous epithelium, which is continuous with the
lining of the mouth and oesophagus.
 Structure cont,,.
• This thicker lining protects underlying tissues from
abrasion by dry or rough foodstuffs passing through
during swallowing, important because the pharynx
is a passageway in both the respiratory and the
digestive tracts.
Submucosa
• The layer of tissue below the epithelium, the
submucosa is rich in mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue involved in immunity.
 structure cont,,
• Tonsils are masses of MALT that bulge through the
epithelium.
• Some glandular tissue is also found here.
SMOOTH MUSCLE
• The pharyngeal muscles helps to keep the pharynx
permanently open so that is not obstructed.
• Constrictor muscles close the pharynx during
swallowing, pushing food and fluid into the
oesophagus.
 Blood and nerve supply
• Blood supply to the pharynx is by several
branches of the facial artery.
• The venous return is into the facial and internal
jugular veins.
• The nerve supply is from the pharyngeal plexus,
and includes both parasympathetic and
sympathetic nerves.
• Parasympathetic supply is by the vagus and
glossopharyngeal nerve.
 Blood and nerve supply cont..
• Sympathetic supply is by nerves from the
superior cervical ganglia.
 Functions of pharynx
• Passageway for air and food;
 pharynx is involved in both the respiratory and the digestive system;
a) Food passes through the oral and larygeal sections.
b) Air passes through nasal and oral section.
• Hearing;
a) The auditory tube , extending from the nasopharynx to each middle ear, allows air to enter
the middle ear.
• Warming and humidity;
a) The air is warmed and moistened as it passes towards the lungs.
• Protection ;
a) The lymphatic tissue of the pharyngeal and laryngeal tonsils produces antibodies in
response to swallowed or inhaled antigens
• Speech
a) 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.