respiratory system

1. THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
PRESENTED BY:
M.C.KNIRANDA
NURSING LECTURER
VINAYAKA INSTITUTE OF NURSING

2. PHARYNX OR THROAT
• It is 12-14 cm (average 12.5 cm or 5 inches) long
funnel shaped tube extends from base of the skull to the
level of the 6th cervical vertebra.
• It lies behind the nose, mouth and larynx and is wider
at its upper end. It is connected to the nasal cavity
through the internal nares and is also connected to the
mouth or oral cavity.

3. PHARYNX OR THROAT
• Organs associated with pharynx are:
i. Superiorly: inferior surface of base of skull.
ii. Inferiorly: esophagus.
iii. Anteriorly: wall is incomplete because of openings
into nose, mouth and larynx.
iv. Posteriorly: areolar tissue, involuntary muscle and
the bodies of the first six cervical vertebrae.

5. PARTS OF PHARYNX
• Pharynx is divided anatomically into three portions (superior to
inferior).
• All three parts are continuous with each other.
• They are –
NASOPHARYNX
OROPHARYNX
LARYNGOPHARYNX

6. PARTS OF PHARYNX

7. 1. NASOPHARYNX:
Nasopharynx is the portion of pharynx superior to the
soft palate.
It lies behind the nose.
There are five openings in it;
2 internal nares
2 openings into auditory tubes and
The opening into oropharynx.

9. 2. OROPHARYNX:
It lies posteriorly to the oral cavity and
extends from the soft palate inferiorly to the level
of hyoid bone.
Oropharynx serves as a common pathway for
air and food.

11. 3. LARYNGOPHARYNX:
Laryngopharynx or hypopharynx is the lower part
of the pharynx situated behind the larynx.
It extends from the upper border of the epiglottis to
the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, where
it is continuous with the esophagus posteriorly.

12. LARYNGOPHARYNX

13. FUNCTIONS OF PHARYNX
1) PASSAGEWAY FOR AIR AND FOOD.
The pharynx is involved in both the respiratory and the
digestive systems: air passes through the nasal and oral
sections, and food through the oral and laryngeal sections.
2) WARMING AND HUMIDIFYING.
As in case of nose, air is further warmed and moistened as it
passes through the pharynx.

14. FUNCTIONS OF PHARYNX
3) TASTE.
Nerve endings of the sense of taste are present in the
epithelium of the oral and laryngeal parts of pharynx.
4) HEARING.
The auditory tube, extending from the nasopharynx to
each middle ear, allows air to enter the middle ear.

15. FUNCTIONS OF PHARYNX
5) PROTECTION.
The lymphatic tissue of the pharyngeal and laryngeal
tonsils produces antibodies in response to antigens, e.g.,
Bacteria.
6) SPEECH.
Pharynx acts as a resonating chamber for sound
ascending from the larynx.
It helps to give voice its individual characteristics.