The pharynx is a funnel-shaped tube found in the midline of the neck, connecting the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus.

Figure 1. Pharynx and related structures (Credit: OpenStax, CC BY 4.0)

Description

The pharynx is a muscular tube lined by mucosa shared by the respiratory and digestive systems.

It spans from the level of the base of the cranium to the level of the C6 vertebra, terminating in the laryngeal inlet and the esophagus.

Parts

The pharynx can be divided into three parts:

  1. Nasopharynx
  2. Oropharynx
  3. Laryngopharynx
Figure 2. Divisions of the pharynx (Credit: OpenStax, CC BY 4.0)

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