- Is the common opening of the digestive and respiratory systems.
- Receives air from the nasal cavity and air, food and water
from the mouth.
- Inferiorly, the pharynx leads to separate openings of the
respiratory system (larynx) and digestive system (esophagus).
- Pharynx can be divided into three (3) regions:
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
- Nasopharynx
- Is the superior region of the pharynx and extends from the
external nares to the level of the uvula--a soft process
that extends from the posterior edge of the soft palate.
- Is lined with a mucous membrane.
- Auditory tubes open here.
- Posterior surface contains the pharyngeal tonsil that protects
the body from infection.
- Oropharynx
- Extends from the uvula to the epiglottis.
- Oral cavity opens into the oropharynx through the fauces.
- Food, drink, and air pass through the oropharynx.
- Is lined with stratified squamous epithelium that provides
protection against abrasion.
- Two (2) sets of tonsils (palatine and lingual) are located
near the fauces.
- Laryngopharynx
- Extends from the tip of the epiglottis to the openings of
the larynx and esophagus.
- Is lined with squamous epithelium.

- Consists of an outer casing of nine (9) cartilages connected
to each other by muscles and ligaments.
- Six (6) of the cartilages are paired and three (3) are unpaired.
23316
- Largest and most superior of the cartilages is the thyroid
cartilage or Adam's Apple.
- Most inferior cartilage is the unpaired cricoid cartilage
which forms the base of the larynx on which the others rest.
- Third unpaired cartilage is the epiglottis.
- Consists of elastic cartilage rather than hyaline.
- During swallowing the epiglottis covers the opening of the
larynx and prevents material from entering the larynx.
- Six (6) paired cartilages are stacked in two pillars between
the cricoid and thyroid cartilages.
- Arytenoid cartilages--largest--most inferior.
- Corniculate cartilages--middle pair.
- Cuneiform cartilages--Most superior and smallest.
- Two (2) pairs of ligaments extend from the anterior surface
of the arytenoid cartilages to the posterior surface of the thyroid
cartilage.

- Superior pair forms the vestibular folds or false vocal cords.
OH-ADAM
- When the vestibular folds come together, they prevent air
from coming from the lungs and prevent food and liquids from entering
the larynx.
- Inferior pair of ligaments form the vocal cords or true vocal
cords. 23329
- The true vocal cords and the opening between them is called
the glottis.
- The vestibular folds and the vocal cords are lined with stratified
squamous epithelium.
- Remainder of the larynx is lined with pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium.
- Inflammation of the mucosal epithelium of the vocal cords
is called laryngitis.
- When speech is produced, air moving past the vocal cords causes
them to vibrate producing sound. 23545 Play, 23737 Play, 23821
Play, 24187 Play
- The greater the amplitude of the vibration, the louder the
sound will be.
- Pitch is controlled by the frequency of the vibrations.
- The cricoid cartilage and the arytenoid cartilages can be
moved by various muscles to change the length of the vocal cords.
- Higher pitched tones are produced when only the anterior portions
of the cords vibrates.
- Progressively lower tones result when longer sections of the
cords vibrate.
- Males normally have lower voices than females because males
usually have longer vocal cord.
- The sound produced by the vibrating vocal cords is modified
by the tongue, lips, and teeth to form words.
- People with the larynx removed can produce sound by swallowing
air and causing the esophagus to vibrate
- Trachea or Windpipe OH 150 Larynx and Trachea
23339
- Is a membraneous tube that consists of dense regular connective
and smooth muscle reinforced with 15-20 "C"-shaped pieces
of cartilage.
- Cartilages form the anterior and lateral sides.
- Protect the trachea and maintain an open passageway for air.
- Posterior wall contains no cartilage and consists of a ligamentous
membrane and smooth muscle which can alter the diameter of the
trachea.
- Esophagus lies immediately posterior to the cartilage-free
posterior wall of the trachea.
- Trachea is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
that contains numerous goblet cells. 23293
- Cilia propel mucus and foreign particles toward the larynx
where they can enter the esophagus and be swallowed. 23325,
23326


- Bronchi OH-150 Larynx and Trachea
- Trachea divides into the right and left primary bronchi.
- Right bronchus is shorter and wider and is more vertical than
the left bronchus.
- Primary bronchi extend from the mediastinum to the lungs.
- The lining of the bronchi is the same as the trachea and the
bronchi are supported by "C"-shaped cartilage rings.
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