A wide, fibromuscular passageway, commonly called the throat, which extends from the base of the skull to the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. There, behind the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, it becomes continuous with the esophagus.
The pharynx serves both the respiratory and the digestive system by receiving air from the nasal cavity and air, food, and water from the oral cavity. Read more...
Function of the Pharynx
The pharynx is a common passageway for air and food, which is why pharynx has dual role. The lower part of the pharynx allows only air, food and fluids to pass by, while the upper part of the pharynx only allows food to pass through. The pharynx then opens into two pathways, one that leads to the esophagus or food passage and the other trachea or air passage. Read more ...
