Pharynx

Pharynx
: The hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach).
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The upper expanded portion of the digestive tube, between the esophagus below and the mouth and nasal cavities above and in front; it is distinct from the rest of the digestive tube in that it is composed exclusively of skeletal (voluntary) muscle arranged in outer circular and inner longitudinal layers. [Mod. L. fr. G. p. (pharyng-), the throat, the joint opening of the gullet and windpipe]
- nasal p. SYN: nasopharynx.
- oral p. SYN: oropharynx.

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phar·ynx 'far-iŋ(k)s n, pl pha·ryn·ges fə-'rin-(.)jēz also phar·ynx·es the part of the digestive and respiratory tracts situated between the cavity of the mouth and the esophagus and in humans being a conical musculomembranous tube about four and a half inches (11.43 centimeters) long that is continuous above with the mouth and nasal passages, communicates through the eustachian tubes with the ears, and extends downward past the opening into the larynx to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage where it is continuous with the esophagus see laryngopharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx

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n.
a muscular tube, lined with mucous membrane, that extends from the beginning of the oesophagus (gullet) up to the base of the skull. It is divided into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx and it communicates with the posterior nares, Eustachian tube, the mouth, larynx, and oesophagus. The pharynx acts as a passage-way for food from the mouth to the oesophagus, and as an air passage from the nasal cavity and mouth to the larynx. It also acts as a resonating chamber for the sounds produced in the larynx.
• pharyngeal adj.

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phar·ynx (farґinks) [Gr. “the throat”] [TA] the musculomembranous passage between the mouth and posterior nares and the larynx and esophagus. The part above the level of the soft palate is the nasopharynx, which communicates with the auditory tube. The lower portion consists of two sections: the oropharynx, which lies between the soft palate and the upper edge of the epiglottis, and the laryngopharynx, which lies below the upper edge of the epiglottis and opens into the larynx and esophagus. Called also throat. pharyngeal adj

Pharynx, divided into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pharynx — [ farɛ̃ks ] n. m. • 1538; faringa fin XVe; gr. pharugx, pharuggos « gorge » ♦ Conduit musculo membraneux qui constitue un carrefour des voies digestives et respiratoires, entre la bouche et l œsophage d une part, les fosses nasales et le larynx d …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pharynx — Phar ynx, n.; pl. {pharynges}. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, ?: cf. F. pharynx.] (Anat.) The part of the alimentary canal between the cavity of the mouth and the esophagus. It has one or two external openings through the nose in the higher vertebrates, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pharynx — 1690s, from Gk. pharynx (gen. pharyngos) windpipe, throat, related to pharanx cleft, chasm …   Etymology dictionary

  • pharynx — [far′iŋks] n. pl. pharynges [fə rin′jēz΄] or pharynxes [ModL < Gr pharynx (gen. pharyngos), throat < IE * bhorg , throat, gullet > L frumen] the muscular and membranous cavity of the alimentary canal leading from the mouth and nasal… …   English World dictionary

  • Pharynx — (gr.), der Schlundkopf; daher Pharingēus, auf den Schlundkopf sich beziehend. Pharyngītis, Entzündung des Schlundkopfs. Pharyngokēle, Schlundkopfvorfall. Pharyngopalatinus musculus, Gaumenrachenmuskel. Pharyngoparalysis, Schlundkopflähmung.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Pharynx — (griech.), der Schlundkopf (s. d.) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Pharynx — Pharynx, griech., der Schlund; Pharyngitis, Entzündung des Schlundkopfs …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Pharynx — Pharynx, Schlund, bei vielen Wirbellosen muskulöser vorderster Abschnitt des Verdauungstrakts; bei Wirbeltieren aus dem ⇒ Kiemendarm hervorgehendes Verbindungsstück zwischen Mundhöhle und Oesophagus sowie zwischen Nasenhöhle und Kehlkopf …   Deutsch wörterbuch der biologie

  • pharynx — ► NOUN (pl. pharynges) ▪ the membrane lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the oesophagus. ORIGIN Greek pharunx …   English terms dictionary

  • pharynx — /far ingks/, n., pl. pharynges /feuh rin jeez/, pharynxes. Anat. the tube or cavity, with its surrounding membrane and muscles, that connects the mouth and nasal passages with the esophagus. See diag. under mouth. [1685 95; < NL < Gk phárynx… …   Universalium

  • Pharynx — Système respiratoire humain Le pharynx est un carrefour aéro digestif entre les voies aériennes (de la cavité nasale au larynx) et les voies digestives (de la cavité buccale ou bouche à l œsophage). On rencontre également à son niveau l ouverture …   Wikipédia en Français

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