PHARYNX

JUNHEL DALANON, DMD, MAT, EdD

PHARYNX
A musculo-fascial tube extending from the base of
skull to the esophagus (at level of C6 vertebra).
It is situated in front of the prevertebral fascia
covering the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C6).
It lies behind the nose, mouth and larynx and
communicates with them.
It acts as a common channel for both deglutition
and respiration.
PHARYNX
Measurements
Length: 12 to 14 cm
Width:
Upper part, 3.5 cm
Lower part, 1.5 cm
PHARYNX
Subdivisions:
1. Nasopharynx
2. Oropharynx
3. Laryngopharynx
NASOPHARYNX
Nasopharynx is the part of
pharynx which lies above the
soft palate.
It acts as a respiratory
passage.
NASOPHARYNX
Superiorly, it is limited by the body
of sphenoid and basi-occiput which
form the roof of nasopharynx.
Inferiorly, it communicates with the
oropharynx at the pharyngeal
(nasopharyngeal) isthmus.
NASOPHARYNX
Soft palate forms the floor of
nasopharynx when it is
elevated during swallowing
and prevents entry of food
from oropharynx.
NASOPHARYNX
Nasopharynx communicates anteriorly
with the nasal cavities through posterior
nasal apertures.
Posteriorly the pharyngeal wall is made up
of the mucosa which covers basi-occiput,
pharyngobasilar fascia and superior
constrictor muscle. Beneath this it is
related to C1 (atlas) vertebra.
NASOPHARYNX
The lateral wall are muscular
and the cavity of
nasopharynx is always
patent.
PHARYNGEAL ISTHMUS
It is an opening bounded
anteriorly by the soft palate and
posteriorly by the posterior wall
of the pharynx.
It separates oropharynx from
nasopharynx.
NASOPHARYNX
2 Important Structures
1. Nasopharyngeal Tonsil
2. Orifice of the auditory tube
NASOPHARYNGEAL TONSIL
It is a collection of lymphoid tissue
present in the midline, beneath the
mucous membrane of the roof
(basi-occiput) and the adjoining
posterior wall of this
region.
OROPHARYNX
The oropharynx extends from the soft palate
above (pharyngeal isthmus) to the tip of
epiglottis below.
It continues inferiorly with the laryngopharynx
at the upper border of epiglottis.
It communicates anteriorly with the oral cavity
through the oropharyngeal isthmus.
PHARYNGEAL ISTHMUS
Superiorly: Soft palate
Inferiorly: Dorsal surface of the posterior third of the tongue.
Laterally (on each side) : Palatoglossal arch, containing the
palatoglossus muscle.
The oropharyngeal isthmus closes during deglutition to prevent
regurgitation of food from pharynx into the mouth.
Posteriorly, oropharynx lies over the C2 and C3 vertebrae
separated from them by the retropharyngeal space and its
contents.
PHARYNGEAL ISTHMUS
Composition of Lateral Wall
a. Tonsilar Fossa
b. Palatoglossal Arch
c. Palatopharyngeal Arch
TONSILAR FOSSA
It is a triangular fossa which
lies between the
palatoglossal and
palatopharyngeal arches. It
lodges the palatine tonsil.
PALATOGLOSSAL ARCH
It is the fold of mucus membrane
which extents down from each side of
soft palate and merges with the lateral
aspect of dorsal part of tongue. It
forms the anterior wall of the fossa. It
overlies the palatoglossus muscle.
PALATOPHARYNGEAL ARCH
It is the fold of mucus membrane
which extents from soft palate on
each side and merges with the
lateral pharyngeal wall. It forms the
posterior wall of the fossa. It overlies
the palato-pharyngeus muscle.
PALATINE TONSIL
Palatine tonsil is a collection
of lymphoid tissue situated in
the tonsillar fossa, one on
each side, in the lateral wall
of the oropharynx.
PALATINE TONSIL
1. Anterior wall: It is formed by palatoglossal
arch.
2. Posterior wall: It is formed by
palatopharyngeal arch.
3. Apex is formed by meeting of both arches at
their upper end.
4. Base is formed by the dorsal surface of
posterior 1/3rd of tongue.
LARYNGOPHARYNX
Laryngopharynx extends from upper
border of the epiglottis to the lower
end of pharynx, i.e., up to inferior
border of cricoid cartilage. It continues
inferiorly as the esophagus at the level
of C6 vertebra.
LARYNGOPHARYNX
The junction of laryngopharynx with
oesophagus is named pharyngo-
oesophageal junction and is the
narrowest part of GIT after
appendix.
LARYNGOPHARYNX
In its upper part, it communicates
anteriorly with the laryngeal cavity
through the laryngeal inlet. Below
the inlet, its anterior wall is formed
by the posterior surface of lamina
of cricoid cartilage.
LARYNGOPHARYNX
Posteriorly, it overlies the
bodies of C4, C5 and C6
vertebra separated from
them by the retropharyngeal
space.
LARYNGOPHARYNX

2 Important Features
1. Laryngeal Inlet
2. Piriform Fossa
LARYNGEAL INLET
It is the opening into the larynx which
communicates posteriorly with laryngopharynx.
The inlet slopes from above downwards and is
bounded by:
Anteriorly and superiorly : Epiglottis.
Laterally : Aryepiglottic folds.
Inferiorly and posteriorly : Arytenoid cartilages
and interarytenoid fold.
LARYNGEAL INLET
The laryngeal inlet closes during
deglutition to prevent entry of food into
the laryngeal cavity. This is brought
about by the approximation of the two
aryepiglottic folds in the midline and
bending of epiglottis posteriorly over the
inlet
PIRIFORM FOSSA
It is a deep recess seen in the inner
aspect of the anterior part of lateral wall
of laryngopharynx, on each side of the
laryngeal inlet. These recesses are
produced due to inward bulging of the
lamina of thyroid cartilage on each side
of midline into this part of pharynx.
LAYERS OF THE PHARYNX
1. Mucosa
2. Submucosa
3. Muscular coat
4. Loose areolar sheath or the
buccopharyngeal fascia
LONGITUDINAL MUSCLES OF
PHARYNX

1. Stylopharyngeus
2. Palatopharyngeus
3. Salpingopharyngeus
3 STAGES OF DEGLUTITION
a. First stage (in the mouth):
Voluntary
b. Second stage (in the pharynx):
Involuntary
c. Third stage (in the oesophagus):
Involuntary
1st Stage of Deglutition
The anterior part of tongue is raised to push the
masticated food to the posterior part of the
oral cavity.
The soft palate closes down on to the back of
tongue to help form a bolus of food.
Now the hyoid bone moves up and food is
pushed from the oral cavity into the oropharynx
through the oropharyngeal isthmus.
2nd Stage of Deglutition
The nasopharyngeal isthmus is closed by
elevation of the soft palate and contraction of
Passavants ridge to prevent entry of food into
the nose.
The laryngeal inlet is closed by approxination
of the aryepiglottic folds to prevent entry of food
into the larynx.
2nd Stage of Deglutition
Now the pharynx and larynx
are elevated behind the hyoid
bone by the longitudinal
muscles of the pharynx.
2nd Stage of Deglutition
The bolus of food is pushed down
over the posterior surface of
epiglottis by gravity and
contraction of superior and middle
constrictors and it passes from the
oropharynx to laryngopharynx.
3rd Stage of Deglutition
By the propulsive action of
thyropharyngeus followed by relaxation of
cricopharyngeus food passes from
laryngopharynx to the oesophagus.
It finally enters into the stomach by the
peristaltic movements in the oesophageal
wall.