The Throat: Part III

The pharynx (often referred to as the throat) is a musculofascial tube, which is incomplete anteriorly and continuous with the nose, mouth and larynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the level of the C6 vertebra, i.e. at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, where it becomes continuous with the oesophagus. The pharynx thus acts as a common entrance to both the respiratory and alimentary tracts, making this an important functional region. The term ‘throat’ is an imprecise word, but is generally taken to mean the area behind the mouth which passes down to the oesophagus. More precisely this is the oropharynx and hypopharynx. The larynx may also be included as part of the throat, but for the purposes of this chapter, this is discussed in the chapter on the neck. Sitting above the throat (oropharynx) is the nasopharynx, a small area just behind the nasal cavity. This houses the openings of the eustachian tubes. Hence some diseases of the throat may cause symptoms in, or extend to directly involve the middle ear.