Pharynx and Larynx

Pharynx

The word pharynxThe muscular passageway connecting the mouth to the esophagus and larynx. is just a fancy word for your throat. It is a word that means crossing. This term fits our throat well. It is the place where the nasalTwo small rectangular bones forming the bridge of the nose. and oral cavities come together. Usually the pharynx can be divided into 3 distinct areas that have similar yet ever so slightly different mucosaThe innermost lining of the digestive tract that contains mucus-secreting cells for protection and a. The nasopharynx is technically part of the respiratory membrane. It has functions previously described. These functions help breathing in warm and humid air. The oropharynx is the most keratinized of these places, owing to more exposure to the outside.  The laryngopharynx contains very specialized structures such as your larynxThe voice box; contains vocal cords and connects the pharynx to the trachea. and your epiglottisA flap of cartilage that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airw.  I am someone who suffers from post-nasal drip, like, all winter.  Mucus in my nasal cavityThe internal space behind the nose that filters, warms, and humidifies incoming air. drips down into my laryngopharynx and causes coughing.  The solutionA homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. is to blow my nose, not cough it out. 

Mucosa

The mucosa of the nasopharynx more closely resembles the mucosa of the nasal cavity. The nasopharynx has pseudostratified ciliated columnar. As the nasopharynx transitions into the oropharynx the mucosa becomes more stratified squamous similar to the oral cavity. Continuing inferiorly as the oral pharynx transitions into the laryngopharynx we come back again to pseudostratified ciliated columnar cellsThe basic structural and functional units of life..  Personally I find this transition a little strange. I believe it requires substantial change to go from a very tall cell like a columnar cell. Flattening into cells like squamous cells is a significant change. I also want to remind you. Pseudostratified means that the cells look as though they are layered. However, they are not. This means that we go from one layer of cells. Then, we move to many layers of cells. Finally, we return to one layer of cells.

Larynx

The larynx is a complicated organ.  Most of us associate the larynx with our voice.  The larynx is capable of producing sound as air is appropriately routed through it.   The larynx also plays a vital role in keeping the trachea open. This is especially important as food slides down the posteriorly located esophagusThe muscular tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach via peristalsis..  The structure of the larynx involves different cartilages. These include the thyroid and cricoid cartilages. They surround the entry way to the trachea and keep it open.  The hyoidU-shaped bone in the neck below the mandible; does not articulate with other bones; supports tongue bone is the one bone in the body that does not articulate or connect to any other bone. It guards the epiglottis. The epiglottis is the superiorAbove or toward the upper part of the body. portion of the larynx and the primary vocalization area. 

These cartilages form the bump known as the Adam’s apple.  Another very important part of the larynx is the epiglottis. The epiglottis is a flap of elastic cartilageA flexible cartilage type found in the ear and epiglottis. that moves inferiorly with food as it descends the esophagus. This movementA fundamental property of life involving motion of the body or its parts. covers the trachea. It prevents food from descending into the trachea as it exits the pharynx. The food then enters the esophagus. When you say that you drank or ate something that “went down the wrong pipe,” it’s because your epiglottis malfunctioned. The intense heat from smoke inhalation also damages the epiglottis.

Epiglottis

Epiglottis is technically part of your laryngopharynx.  It is a little flap of elastic cartilageA flexible connective tissue found in joints, the ear, nose, and rib cage. Cartilage can be of three. Elastic cartilage looked very similar to hyaline cartilageThe most abundant cartilage type, found in joints, ribs, and the nose. with the condra sites in the lacunaSmall spaces in bone tissue where osteocytes reside.. Elastic cartilage does not have a glassy matrix where the cells are embedded. Instead, it has what looks like scratches all over the glassy matrix in between the chondrocytes. These scratches are little elastic fibers that allow the epiglottis to be movable. As food slides down the throat the epiglottis moves inferiorBelow or toward the lower part of the body. and covers the trachea.

When someone has smoke inhalation we’re certainly concerned with the damage made to any part of their respiratory systemThe organ system responsible for gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).. Along with smoke inhalation also calms the inhalation of air that is essentially too hot for your respiratory system. The epiglottis can be compromised by this heat. During healing the epiglottis may refuse to move inferior and cover the trachea when food is swallowed.

-gitis

We previously mentioned rhinitis as a condition affecting the nasal cavity. We also mentioned sinusitis which is a condition affecting only these sinus cavities. There is also pharyngitis which is just a simple sore throat . And then there is laryngitis which is a sore throat that specifically affects your laryngopharynx and your larynx. Basically with the upper respiratory system there’s just a lot of irises that you can have.