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The throat, or pharynx, is a muscular tube in the middle of the neck. It is responsible for breathing, digesting food, and forming speech. The pharynx is made up of three parts: the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and laryngopharynx. The pharynx is mostly muscle, with some cartilage at the back. The muscles of the pharynx include the stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and palatopharyngeus muscles. The throat is also connected to the larynx, or voice box, which is a cylindrical grouping of muscles, cartilage, and soft tissue that contains the vocal cords. The muscles of the larynx can be divided into two groups: the external muscles and the internal muscles. The throat and larynx are supported by the neck muscles, which help with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
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What You'll Learn
- The throat (pharynx) is a muscular tube that helps with breathing, digestion and speech
- The pharynx is made up of three sections: oropharynx, hypopharynx and laryngopharynx
- The larynx (voice box) is a grouping of muscles, soft tissue and cartilages that contain the vocal cords
- The laryngeal muscles are divided into intrinsic and extrinsic groups, with distinct functions
- The stylopharyngeus is the only pharyngeal muscle innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve
The throat (pharynx) is a muscular tube that helps with breathing, digestion and speech
The throat, or pharynx, is a muscular tube that serves multiple functions in the human body. Located in the middle of the neck, it connects the mouth (oral cavity) and nose to the trachea (windpipe) and lungs, as well as the oesophagus (eating tube). This tube is approximately 4 inches long and is primarily made of muscle, with some cartilage at the back of the pharynx.
The pharynx is essential for breathing, digestion, and speech. During breathing, the pharynx acts as a passageway for air, connecting the nasal and oral cavities to the trachea and lungs. It also plays a crucial role in digestion by directing food and liquids from the mouth and nose to the oesophagus and digestive system. Additionally, the pharynx is involved in speech production, working in conjunction with the larynx (voice box) to produce sounds.
The pharynx is composed of three main sections: the oropharynx, hypopharynx or laryngopharynx, and nasopharynx. The oropharynx, situated in the middle of the throat, contains the tonsils and connects to the oral cavity. It is through the oropharynx that air, food, and fluids pass. The hypopharynx, at the bottom of the pharynx, regulates the movement of food to the oesophagus and air to the lungs. The nasopharynx, as the name suggests, is connected to the nasal cavity and is located at the back of the nose.
The muscles of the pharynx work in coordination with the laryngeal muscles to facilitate breathing, digestion, and speech. The laryngeal muscles are divided into intrinsic and extrinsic groups, based on their location and function. The intrinsic laryngeal muscles, confined within the larynx, control sound production by adjusting the vocal cords' tension, length, and position. These include muscles such as the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles. On the other hand, the extrinsic laryngeal muscles have an attachment site outside the larynx and are responsible for positioning and stabilising the larynx during swallowing and speech.
The pharynx is susceptible to various medical issues, ranging from common ailments like the cold to more serious conditions such as throat cancer. Maintaining a healthy pharynx involves not smoking and taking preventive measures to avoid infections.
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The pharynx is made up of three sections: oropharynx, hypopharynx and laryngopharynx
The pharynx, or throat, is a muscular tube located in the middle of the neck. It is part of the digestive system and the conducting zone of the
The pharynx is made up of three sections: oropharynx, hypopharynx, and laryngopharynx. The oropharynx is in the middle of the throat and contains the tonsils at the base of the tongue. It connects to the oral cavity, and air, food, and fluid pass through it. The oropharynx is lined by non-keratinized squamous stratified epithelium. The hypopharynx is at the bottom of the pharynx and regulates how food moves to the oesophagus and into the digestive system. It also controls how air moves to the lungs.
The laryngopharynx, also known as the hypopharynx, is the caudal part of the pharynx and is located at the back of the larynx. It serves as a passageway for food and air, similar to the oropharynx. The laryngopharynx includes three major sites: the pyriform sinus, postcricoid area, and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The pharyngeal muscles are arranged as an inner layer of longitudinal muscles and an outer circular layer. There are three circular pharyngeal constrictor muscles – superior, middle, and inferior – that contract sequentially to constrict the pharyngeal lumen and propel food into the oesophagus.
The neck muscles support the head and neck and enable a range of movements, including those of the head. They also assist with chewing, swallowing, and breathing. There are about 30 neck muscles, which are skeletal muscles attached to bones by tendons. They are voluntary muscles, meaning an individual has control over their movement.
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The larynx (voice box) is a grouping of muscles, soft tissue and cartilages that contain the vocal cords
The larynx, commonly known as the voice box, is a grouping of muscles, soft tissue, and cartilages that contain the vocal cords. It is a hollow, tubular structure that sits at the top of the neck, just above the trachea (windpipe) and oesophagus. The larynx is responsible for breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea from food aspiration. It is the source of vocal sounds, manipulating pitch and volume, which is essential for phonation.
The laryngeal muscles are categorised into intrinsic and extrinsic muscles based on their location and function. Intrinsic laryngeal muscles are confined within the larynx and are responsible for controlling sound production by adjusting the vocal cords' tension, length, and position. The primary intrinsic muscles include the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles. On the other hand, extrinsic laryngeal muscles have one attachment site outside the larynx and play a role in positioning and stabilising the larynx during swallowing and speech.
The larynx is made up of several parts, including the supraglottis (upper part), glottis (middle part), and subglottis (lower part). These different parts contain various types of cartilage, muscle, ligaments, and membranes. The glottis is the only part that contains the vocal folds or vocal cords. The muscles in the larynx move the larynx during swallowing, help with breathing, and produce vocal sounds.
The larynx is a complex structure with intricate neuromuscular control. The hyoid bone, located just below the jawline, is the only bone in the larynx and articulates with many extrinsic laryngeal muscles. The thyroid cartilage, often known as the Adam's apple, is a prominent external landmark of the larynx. The epiglottis, a flap-like projection at the upper part of the larynx, covers the glottis during swallowing to prevent food or liquid from entering the respiratory tract.
The larynx is a vital organ for vocalisation and respiration. The vocal cords within the larynx vibrate to produce sound, and the manipulation of the larynx and vocal cords affects pitch and volume. The larynx also serves to protect the airway during swallowing, ensuring food and liquid pass safely into the oesophagus. Overall, the larynx's structure and functions are essential for human speech and respiration.
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The laryngeal muscles are divided into intrinsic and extrinsic groups, with distinct functions
The larynx is a critical component of the human body, enabling respiration, airway protection during swallowing, and phonation or sound production. The laryngeal muscles are named after their origin and insertion sites, and they are traditionally divided into two groups: the intrinsic laryngeal muscles and the extrinsic laryngeal muscles.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles are responsible for controlling sound production by adjusting the vocal cords' tension, length, and position. These muscles are confined entirely within the larynx and include the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles. The cricothyroid is the only tensor muscle of the larynx, and it is considered both an extrinsic and intrinsic muscle as it affects both laryngeal movement and glottic tension. The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, while the other intrinsic muscles are innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The intrinsic muscles also include abductors (posterior cricoarytenoid), adductors (lateral cricoarytenoid, transverse arytenoid), sphincters (transverse arytenoid, oblique arytenoid, aryepiglottic), and muscles that relax the vocal cords (thyroarytenoid, vocalis).
On the other hand, the extrinsic laryngeal muscles have one attachment site outside the larynx and play a role in positioning and stabilising the larynx during swallowing and speech. They are also known as the external muscles and include the suprahyoid and infrahyoid groups, along with the stylopharyngeus muscle. The suprahyoid group includes muscles such as the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid, while the infrahyoid group includes the omohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and sternohyoid muscles. These muscles act to elevate or depress the larynx, ensuring effective phonation and airway protection.
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The stylopharyngeus is the only pharyngeal muscle innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve
The pharynx, or throat, is a muscular tube in the middle of the neck. It is responsible for breathing and digesting food. The pharynx is made up of three parts: the oropharynx, the nasopharynx, and the laryngopharynx. The oropharynx, located in the middle of the throat, contains the tonsils and connects to the oral cavity. The hypopharynx, at the bottom of the pharynx, regulates the passage of food to the oesophagus and air to the lungs.
The stylopharyngeus is a muscle of the pharynx. It is a long, slender, tapered muscle that is cylindrical at the top and flattened at the bottom. It originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. The stylopharyngeus elevates the larynx and pharynx and dilates the pharynx, facilitating swallowing.
The stylopharyngeus is unique among the pharyngeal muscles in that it is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX). All other pharyngeal muscles are innervated by the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). The glossopharyngeal nerve runs on the lateral side of the stylopharyngeus and crosses over it to reach the tongue. The stylopharyngeus is accompanied by the glossopharyngeal nerve and the stylohyoid ligament as it passes between the superior pharyngeal constrictor and middle pharyngeal constrictor muscles.
The suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are also involved in the movement of the larynx. The suprahyoid muscles move the hyoid bone during swallowing and speech, while the infrahyoid muscles move the larynx up and down.
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Frequently asked questions
The throat, or pharynx, is a muscular tube in the middle of your neck. It helps with breathing, digesting food, and forming speech.
The muscles of the throat include the stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, superior and middle pharyngeal constrictors, and the cricopharyngeus.
The stylopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and larynx during swallowing. The salpingopharyngeus assists in elevating the pharynx and larynx, and contributes to opening the Eustachian tube to equalize middle ear pressure. The palatopharyngeus forms the posterior pillar of the palatine tonsil. The superior and middle pharyngeal constrictors overlap to form the posterior wall of the oropharynx. The cricopharyngeus forms the upper esophageal sphincter and relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass into the esophagus.
The muscles of the larynx can be divided into two groups: the external muscles and the internal muscles. The external muscles include the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles, which elevate and depress the larynx, respectively. The internal muscles include the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, which act on the individual components of the larynx and play a role in breathing and phonation.
The suprahyoid muscles move the hyoid bone during swallowing and speaking. The infrahyoid muscles move the larynx up and down. The intrinsic muscles control the shape of the rima glottidis and the length and tension of the vocal folds. The extrinsic muscles position and stabilize the larynx.
