What is a pharynx and what is its function?

Answer 1

Pharynx is the part of the throat that is common to both digestive system andrespiratory system. It starts behind the nose and ends in the beginning of the voice box (larynx) and the oesophagus. It is a muscular tube lined by mucous membranes that connects the nose with the wind-pipe (trachea) and the mouth with the food-pipe (esophagus) and thus acts as a common passage for both food and air.

Structure of Pharynx:

Pharynx is a soft collapsible tube. It is about 13 cm long in humans and lies in the front of the spinal column. The pharynx contains tonsils and adenoids (in children). Pharynx is divided into three parts namely the oropharynx, nasopharynx and laryngopharynx.

Functions of Pharynx:

The main function of pharynx is to act as a common passage for both food and air. Thus the pharynx should channel food without choking. Pharynx plays a major role in the first phase of swallowing. As the food bolus is pushed by the tongue into the pharynx, it pushes the food down by muscular contraction down the esophagus.

The other important function of Pharynx is to equalize pressure that gets built near the ear drums. This is made possible by the two eustachian tubes (one from each ear) that connect the middle ear with pharynx.

Pharynx is very soft and can be easily collapsed. Thus any physical structure can cause an obstruction in the pharynx. Pharynx is easily susceptible to infections. The inflammation or infection of pharynx is known as pharyngitis which is caused by micro organisms that enter through nose or mouth. The pharynx might collapse during sleep and the resulting condition is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Any failure in the normal functioning of pharynx can cause breathing, swallowing or voice problems.

Answer 2

The pharynx is a region located where the oral and nasal cavities meet.

It functions as a passageway for both the digestive and respiratory systems.

In the digestive system, food is ingested in the mouth and travels through the pharynx on its way down to the esophagus and stomach, etc.

In the respiratory system, air inhaled from the mouth and nose pass through the pharynx on its way to the trachea. It must first travel through the larynx and pass through the glottis, when it goes through the trachea to the lungs, etc.