anatomy of pharynx

1. ANATOMY OF
PHARYNX
BY MS. SAILI GAUDE
PRINCIPAL
SHIVAM COLLEGE OF NURSING

2. PHARYNX
• It is a component of the digestive system and respiratory system.
• It is soft part above throat that links the nose and mouth to the esophagus.

3. SIZE & LOCATION
• It is 13 cm long
• Resembles a short length of a red garden hose
• Located behind the nasal cavity and mouth and above the larynx and esophagus.
• Begins at the base of skull and ends at the inferior border of cricoid cartilage at
vertebral level C6

4. FUNCTION
• Serves as a common passage for food and air

5. PARTS OF THE PHARYNX
Nasopharynx Oropharynx Laryngopharynx

6. NASOPHARYNX
• Found between base of skull and soft palate
• Lies posterior to nasal cavity and extends inferiorly till uvula
• Continuous with nasal cavity
• Lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with mucus secreting
goblet cells
• Contains the adenoid tonsils on the posterior wall
• On its lateral wall are 2 opening of the auditory tubes one leading to each middle
ear.

7. FUNCTIONS OF NASOPHARYNX
• Conduit of air
• Ventilation of middle ear and equalize pressure
• Resonating chamber during voice production
• Drainage channel for secretion of drainage from nose
• The adednoids helps in clearing out infections

8. OROPHARYNX
• Middle part of the pharynx
• Oral part of the pharynx
• Lies behind mouth extends from below the level of soft palate to the level of the
upper part of the body of the 3rd cervical vertebra. (superior border of epiglottis)
• During swallowing the nasal and oral parts are separated by soft palate and uvula
• Contains lingual tonsils- lymphoid tissues at base of tongue
• Lateral wall blends with soft palate to form 2 fold on each side
• Between each pair of fold lies the palatine tonsils.

9. PALATINE TONSILS
• These are lymphoid tissue located in the tonsillar fossa
• Almond shaped
• Consists of lymphocytes

10. WALDEYER’S TONSILLAR RING
• It is the ring of lymphoid tissue in the naso and oropharynx formed by the paired
palatine tonsil, the adenoid tonsils and lingual tonsil
• Functions as a barrier to infection in first few years of life

11. FUNCTIONS OF OROPHARYNX
• Passage of air and food
• Helps in formation of certain sounds
• Helps in taste
• Provides local defense and immunity

12. LARYNGOPHARYNX
• Laryngeal part extending from oropharynx till above the esophagus ie. 6th cervical
vertebrae
• Most distal part of pharynx
• Contains middle and inferior constrictors

13. LAYERS OF PHARYNX
• Composed of 3 layers:
Mucous layer
Fibrous layer
Muscular layer

14. MUCOUS LAYER
• Continuous with that lining the auditory tubes, nasal cavities, mouth and larynx
• Nasal part of pharynx: covered by columnar ciliated epithelium
• Oral and laryngeal part- stratified squamous epithelium
• Beneath mucous membrane there is mucous glands
• Numerous at the upper part of the pharynx

15. FIBROUS LAYER
• Situated between mucous and muscular layer
• Thick and firmly connected to basilar portion of occipital bone and petrous
portion of the temporal bone

16. MUSCLE LAYER
• 2 muscular layers of pharynx
• Outer circular layer- consists the inferior constrictor muscle
• Inner longitudinal layer