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We know that in our neck there is an area called “pharynx” but what is it for? When it is cold or when we are ill we can experience pain in the lower throat area and, it is possible, that the doctor will label it with the name of “pharyngitis” since it is affecting this part of the body but what is the function in the organism? In this OneHowTo article we are going to provide you with a human anatomy class so you can know what is the function of the pharynx and understand the process that is activated in our body when we breathe and when we eat.
What is the pharynx
The tube that takes care of communicate the respiratory system with the digestive system It is the pharynx, it is the tube that comes just after the mouth and that joins the breath that we receive through the nose as well as the air that we receive through the mouth; it is also communicated with the ear thanks to the Eustachian tubes. This conduit measures about 10 centimeters long and contains walls that are made up of muscles filled with a moist mucosa.
When we eat and swallow, the respiratory tube (also known as the “windpipe”) is closed by a valve called the “epiglottis” that prevents food from seeping into the airways. When we are eating and we feel that we are choking because the food has gone “on the other side”, in reality, the only thing that has happened is that that valve has not worked correctly and a piece of food has leaked through the respiratory tract .
In the pharynx is where the soft palate and at the end of which are the tonsils, some glands that are responsible for defending our body from infectious agents that can enter through our mouth; Without them, we would be at a greater risk that any bacteria or virus that creeps into our food would end up affecting us more seriously.
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Main functions of the pharynx
As we have already said, the pharynx is a conduit that joins the respiratory system of the digestive system, therefore, if we want to know the pharyngeal function we must know that, essentially, it has two: the one that has to do with respiration and the one that refers to the digestion of food. We will detail them below:
- Digestive function of the pharynx
When we eat, we introduce food into the oral cavity where we chew it and then push it back with our tongue. That “back” is the pharynx, a conduit where the already crushed and moist food can continue its process in the body until it reaches the stomach. In the pharynx is where the muscle contractions that will allow the food to continue its course and reach the esophagus.
The contractions also prevent food from entering the windpipe and thus from seeping into the respiratory tract. The epiglottis is the valve that, with contractions, the pharynx is responsible for closing and preventing us from choking on a piece of food.
- Respiratory function of the pharynx
Through the nasal passages we can swallow air but it can also leak through the mouth, both channels reach the pharynx which is responsible for send it to the windpipe and, this, take it to the lungs. Before we have indicated that the pharynx is covered with mucus on the walls, this is because it adapts to what it receives (whether it is food or air) and, depending on this, it activates one function or another.
Thus, any condition that occurs in the pharynx (infections, diseases, etc.) can cause both respiratory problems and problems with the introduction of food. One of the most common diseases of this part of the body is pharyngitis.
Other functions of the pharynx
But, in addition to these basic aspects, the pharynx is also involved in other bodily processes such as vocalization or pressure in the middle ear. Let’s go by parts:
- The pharynx and vocalization
People can make sounds thanks to the vocal cords and this process is known as vocalization. For this to be possible, it is necessary that the air we inhale outside passes through the pharynx and larynx so that the vocal chords that are in the larynx can vibrate and, therefore, produce the sound that we emit when we speak. That is, without the duct of the pharynx that is responsible for transporting air to the larynx, we couldn’t talk. At OneHowTo we also tell you what the larynx is for.
- The pharynx and pressure in the middle ear
We have already mentioned previously that the Eustachian tube is the tube that connects the pharynx with the ear, thus allowing a nasopharyngeal opening. This is opened and closed, a method that allows equalizing the pressure that reaches the middle ear and, therefore, the sound that comes from the outside can be conducted correctly. It is for this reason that, when we suffer from a condition in this area, we may experience an earache, not hear well (the effect of plugged ears) or feel dizzy.
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