Pharynx

pharynx is a musculo-membranous crossroads between the air routes (of nasal cavity with larynx) and digestive tracts (of the oral cavity or stop with?sophage). One also meets on his level the opening of Eustachian tube or tubes auditive, who the met in communication withear average on the level of the case of tympanum.

The pharynx intervenes in:

• swallowing
• breathing
• phonation
• hearing

Having the shape of a funnel or a half-gutter applied against rachis cervical, it extends from base cranium at the lower edge of 6th vertebra cervical (C6) (or higher edge of C7) and continues itself by the?sophage. It measures:

• 15 cm length (12 cm in contraction)
• 5 cm broad in nasal position
• 4 cm broad in oral position
• 2 cm broad in laryngée position

It is thus subdivided in 3 stages: nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx. And it is always open: permanently 2 cm separate the walls former and posterior.

Nasopharynx or rhinopharynx

With its former part opens the nasal cavity. It consists of:

• Two side walls which lead behind to choanes. On each wall the opening is of Eustachian tube, with behind of this one a récessus pharyngien: small cavity of Rosenmüller.
• Of a wall higher than the level of which the fornix pharyngien is corresponding to tonsilles or amygdalae pharyngiennes. When those are hypertrophied in the child, entrainant a respiratory gene, one speaks about vegetations glandular.
• Of a posterior wall on the level of which is the former arc ofatlas or 1st cervical vertebra.

Observation of the nasopharynx byORL is done by posterior rhinoscopy, i.e. while placing a mirror at the bottom of gorges turned upwards.

Oropharynx

It communicates:

• In top with the nasopharynx on the level of the isthmus of the pharynx, compared to velum.
• Ahead with the oral cavity byisthmus of the gosier limited by palato-glossus arcs. It thus answers the root of language.
• In bottom with the laryngopharynx.

Laryngopharynx

It places larynx behind and narrows in bottom to continue itself by?sophage. It is limited ahead byépiglotte.

Constitution of the pharynx

Surface with the depth one finds:

• One mucous membrane
• fascia pharyngo-basilaire
• muscles constrictors, 3: superior, means, inferior. They are flat, pars and curved.
• Elevator muscles of the pharynx
• The fascia bucco-pharyngien

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