Anatomy of

The Throat
Supervisor : dr. Oscar Djauhari, Sp. THT

Presented by :
Erlilis 2015.061.081
Jason Ekaputra Solihin 2016.061.176
Tasya Sabrina
Pharynx
Overview
 Nasopharynx Throat (Pharynx)
Located behind the nose, above the
soft palate
Contains adenoids (pharyngeal tonsils)
Eustachian tube opens during
swallowing to equalize pressure within
the middle ear
Oropharynx
Located behind the mouth, below the
nasopharynx
Shared passageway for breathing and
swallowing
Contains palatine tonsils, which guard
the body against microorganisms
Laryngopharynx
Extends from base of tongue to the
esophagus
Critical dividing point where solids are
separated from air Named according to
Divides larynx from esophagus location
Pharyngeal Muscle
Muscle of
Pharynx
 Pharynx Innervation
Innervation of the majority of the pharynx is achieved by the pharyngeal plexus,
which comprises of:
Branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Branches of the vagus nerve (CN X)
Sympathetic fibres of the superior cervical ganglion.
Sensory: Each of the three sections of the pharynx have a different innervation:
The nasopharynx is innervated by the maxillary nerve (CN V2).
The oropharynx by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
The laryngopharynx by the vagus nerve (CN X).
Motor: All the muscles of the pharynx are innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X),
except for the stylopharyngeus, which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve
(CN IX).
 Nasopharynx

Located posterior to nasal cavity

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium
Includes pharyngeal tonsils or
adenoids
Eustachian Tubes (auditory tubes)
Connects the middle ear and
nasopharynx
Middle ear infection is called otitis
media
Complication of ET tubes
Nasopharynx boundaries:
Superior : Sphenoid bone
Inferior : palatum molle
Anterior: choanae
Posterior : cervical vertebra I
& II
Nasopharynx function
Common pathway for air; between nose and larynx.
Connects to middle ear through eustachian tube and manage the
pressure.
Acts as a resonating chamber for voice production
Acts as a drainage channel for mucus secreted by nasal and
nasopharyngeal glands
 Oropharynx
Lies behind the oral cavity
Lingual tonsils lie at the root of
the tongue
Non-keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium

Oropharynx boundaries:
Superior: palatum molle
Inferior: upper part of epiglottis
Anterior: isthmus faucium
Posterior: cervical vertebra
 Laryngopharynx

Lies between the base of the

tongue and the entrance to
the esophagus
Lies posterior to the epiglottis
Stratified squamous
epithelium
aka Hypopharynx
Muscle of
Soft Palate
Waldeyers Ring
Pharyngeal
tonsil
Tubal
tonsil

Palatine
tonsil
Lingual
tonsil

Function :
Produce B and T lymphocytes
Local defense
Produce lymphocytes to send to
other lymph nodes.
 Valleculae
Cup shaped depressions
Lying between the base of the tongue
and anterior surface of epiglottis
Bounded medially by the median
glossoepiglottic fold
Laterally by pharyngoepiglottic fold
Oropharynx Function
Common pathway air & food
Pharyngeal phase deglutition
Vocal tract speech
Appreciation of taste
Provide local immunity & defense
Laryngopharynx
Extends from the tip of epiglottis
the inferior aspect of cricoid
cartilage
Laryngopharynx boundaries:
Superior : the upper epiglottis
Inferior : introitus esophagus as high
as cricoid cartilage/ 4th cervical
vertebrae
Anterior : aditus laryngis
Posterior : pharynx wall
Laryngopharynx Function

Common pathway air & food

Help in deglutition
Provides a vocal tract for resonance of certain speech sounds
 Clinically

Pyriform sinus Post-cricoid Post-pharyngeal

(fossa) region wall
Pyriform Sinus/ Fossa
Extent from pharyngoeppiglottic fold upper end of oesophagus
Boundaries:
Lateral: thyrohyoid memb & thyroid cartilage
Medial: aryepiglottic fold, postero lateral surfaces of arytenoid and crocoid
cartilage
Forms lateral channel for food
Smuggler fossa
Foreign bodies may get lodged here
Internal laryngeal nerve in submucosa of lateral wall; easily accessible for
local anesthetic
Post-cricoid region
Part of:
Ant wall of laryngopharynx between upper and lower border of
cricoid lamina

Post-Pharyngeal Wall
Extents from Hyoid bone the level of cricoarytenoid joint
 Swallowing

Oral phase

Pharyngeal phase Esophageal phase

Larynx
 Anatomy of Larynx
In the midline of the neck
From 3rd 6th cervical vertebrae
Consists of :
a framework of cartilages, connected
by ligaments & membranes
lined by a mucous membrane and
moved by muscles
As a sphincter at the junction of the
digestive and respiratory tract
Airway protection
Respiration
Phonation
 Laryngeal Cartilages

Unpaired Paired
1. Thyroid 1. Arytenoid
2. Cricoid 2. Corniculate
3. epiglottis 3. Cuneiform
Cartilage
 Thyroid Cartilage
The largest cartilage
Composed of 2 lamina that fused in
the midline and open posteriorly
Man: 900 laryngeal prominence/
Adams apple
Female: 120
Connects to the hyoid bone by
thyrohyoid membrane (ligament)
 Cricoid Cartilage
Below the thyroid cartilage,
connected by cricothyroid
ligament
Signet ring shaped complete
ring broad plate behind and
shallow arch in front
Major support for the
functioning larynx
Attached to the first ring of the
trachea by cricotracheal
ligament
 Arytenoid Cartilages
Consists of 2 cartilages
Small & pyramid shaped
Located at the back of the larynx
Most important influences
changes in position and tension
of the vocal folds
Apex articulates with small
corniculate
Base articulates with the
lamina of the cricoid
Vocal processes attach to
vocal ligaments
Muscular processes Attach to
the posterior and lateral
cricoarytenoid muscles
 Corniculate Cartilages
Consists of 2 cartilages
Conical shaped
Articulates with the arytenoid
cartilages (apex)
Cuneiform Cartilages/ Cartilages of Wrisberg
Consists of 2 cartilages
Rod shaped
Anterior to the corniculate
cartilages