The pharynx is a skeletal muscle tube extending from the base of the tongue to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage. It lies anterior to the cervical spine and is laterally confined by neck muscles. The pharynx and larynx are embryologically and anatomically related, with the epiglottis and supraglottis originating from the pharynx, not the larynx. The document proceeds to describe the anatomy and landmarks of the pharynx in detail.

1. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
The pharynx is
a funnel-
shaped tube of
skeletal
muscle
extending
from the
cranial
base/tongue
base to the
lower margin
of the cricoid
cartilage

2. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
The pharynx lies anterior to
the vertebral bodies of the
cervical spine, prevertebral
muscles, and loose connective
tissue of the retropharyngeal
space. The pharynx is
confined laterally by the
muscles of the neck, lateral
portions of the hyoid bone and
thyroid cartilage, and carotid
sheath

3. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
The pharynx and
larynx are
intimately related,
in embryologic
origin and
anatomically. The
epiglottis and
remainder of the
supraglottis are of
pharyngeal, not
laryngeal
origin.

4. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
1. Superior surface of
the tongue.
2. Tonsillar fossa.
3. Valleculae.
4. Lateral wall of the
piriform sinus.
5. Piriform sinus
6. The median
glossoepiglottic fold.
7. Surface of the base of
the tongue

5. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
1.Soft palate.
2.Base of the
tongue.
3.Epiglottis.
4.Vallecula.
5.Pyriform
fossa/sinus.
6.Posterior
pharyngeal wall.
7.Pharyngo-
esophageal
region.

6. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
1.Salpingopharyngeal folds.
2.Eustachian tube orifice.
3.Palatopharyngeal fold.
4.Soft palate.
5.Adenoidal lymphoid tissue.
A C-shaped prominence is seen
radiographically near the torus
tubarius. The salpingopharyngeal
fold overlying salpingopharyngeal
muscle courses inferiorly from the
torus along the lateral pharyngeal
wall to the level of the soft palate.
The posterior nasopharyngeal wall
has a variably nodular surface
because of underlying adenoidal
tissue.

7. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
The vertical
(pharyngeal)
surface of the base
of the tongue is
variably nodular
because of
underlying lymphoid
tissue of the lingual
tonsil

8. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
1.Median glossoepiglottic
fold.
2.Vallecula.
3.Pharyngoepiglottic fold.
4.Epiglottic tip.
5.Aryepiglottic fold.
6.Interarytenoid notch.
The median glossoepiglottic
fold overlies the glossoepiglottic
ligament, which courses from
the base of the tongue to the
epiglottis. The median
glossoepiglottic fold divides the
space between the tongue and
the epiglottis into two sacs, the
valleculae.

9. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
1.Uvular tip.
2.Paired pharyngoepiglottic
folds.
3.Valleculae.
4.Anterior walls of pyriform
fossae.
5.Muscular processes of
aretenoid cartilages.
The lateral glossoepiglottic
folds form the lateral walls of
the valleculae. The
pharyngoepiglottic folds course
from the posterolateral portion
of the valleculae into the lateral
pharyngeal wall

10. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
The tonsillar fossa forms part of the lateral oropharyngeal
wall. Each tonsillar fossa is bounded anteriorly by a
palatoglossal fold (anterior tonsillar pillar; and posteriorly by a
palatopharyngeal fold (posterior tonsillar pillar) overlying the
palatopharyngeal muscle

11. ANATOMY OF PHARYNX
During swallowing,
redundant mucosa along
the anterior wall of the
pharyngoesophageal
segment ust posterior to
the cricoid cartilage may
create an undulating or
plaquelike contour. To rule
out a subtle stricture, web,
or infiltrating lesion, the
radiologist must be certain
that this mucosal
nodularity changes size
and shape and flattens
during swallowing.