Here anatomy of Nasopharynx, Oropharynx and Laryngopharynx has been discussed.

1. “PHARYNX ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY”
Dr. Shraddha Joshi
Ph.D. 1st year
Shalakya Tantra
Dept.
ITRA
Jamnagar

2.  Muscular tube.
 Situated behind Nose, Mouth and Larynx.
 Nasopharynx- Situated behind nose and above lower border of
soft palate.
 Oropharynx- Middle part of pharynx.
 Hypopharynx- behind larynx from upper part of the epiglottis
to lower border of cricoid cartilage.
Pharynx

5. Naso-
Pharynx
 Situated behind the nose and above the soft palate.
 Bony landmark is Hard palate- at C1 level.
 Rigid wall- Pharyngobasilar fascia and posterior median
pharyngeal ligament.
 Anteriorly- Communicates with conchae.
 Inferiorly- Communicates with oropharynx at pharyngeal
isthmus.
 Nasopharyngeal Isthmus- Passavant’s muscle. (Lower border
of Soft palate & posterior wall of pharynx.

6.  Lateral wall:
• Pharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube.
• Tubal elevation bounds the tubal opening.
• Salpingopharyngeal fold.
• Leveator palatani.
• Fossa of Rosenmuller.
 Roof and Posterior wall:
• Continuous slope, opposite the posterior part of body of
sphenoid, basiocciput and anterior arch of atlas.
• Adenoids- In the roof and the posterior wall of lymphoid
tissue.

9. Oro-Pharynx
 Situated behind oral cavity
 Extend from the level of the soft palate to the level of the
hyoid bone.
 Superiorly- communicates to the nasopharynx through the
pharyngeal isthmus.
 Anteriorly- It communicates with the oral cavity
 Posteriorly- opposite to C2 and C3.
 Lateral wall- Palatine tonsils and anterior & posterior pillars.
 Inferior border- Hyoid bone.

11. Hypo-
Pharynx
 Also known as Laryngopharynx.
 Situated behind the larynx.
 Extends from upper border of epiglottis/ level of hyoid bone to
the lower border of cricoid cartilage.
 Anterior wall-
• Inlet of larynx.
• Posterior surface of cricoid and arytenoid cartilages.
 Posterior wall-
• 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae.

12.  Lateral wall-
• Pyriform fossa, one on
each side of the inlet of
the larynx.

13. Pharyngeal wall
1. Mucosa- Lined by squamous epithelium except the
nasopharyx (Nasopharynx- ciliated columnar epithelium)
2. Submucosa
3. Pharyngobasilar fascia-
• Fibrous sheet deep to the pharyngeal muscle.
• Fills the gap between upper border of superior constrictor and
base of skull.

14. 4. Muscular coat-
• Consist of outer circular layer made of 3 constrictors.
• Inner longitudinal layer made up of Stylopharyngeus,
Salpingopharyngeus, Palatopharyngeus muscles.
5. Buccopharyngeal fascia-
• Covers the outer surface of the constrictors.
• Below the buccopharyngeal fascia, on the muscular coat there
lie the pharyngeal plexus of veins and nerves.

17.  External Carotid Artery- Ascending pharyngeal branch.
 Facial artery- Ascending palatine & tonsillar branches.
 Lingual Artery- Dorsal lingual branches.
 Maxillary Artery- Greater Palatine, Pharyngeal , Pterygoid
branches .
Blood Supply

19. Venous
Drainage

20. Lymphatic
Drainage
 Retropharyngeal Lymphnodes.
 Deep Cervical Lymphnodes.

21. Nerve Supply
 Supplied by pharyngeal plexus of nerves chiefly on
the middle constrictor.
 Plexus is formed by-
• Pharyngeal branch of vagus (cranial accessory).
• Pharyngeal branch of glossopharyngeal.
• Pharyngeal branches of superior cervical sympathetic
ganglion.