---
title: "Anatomy of Pharynx - Introduction"
description: "A guide to the Anatomy of Pharynx for medical students and ENT residents."
source: "The ENT Resident"
author: "Dr. Mausumi Das"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/anatomy-of-pharynx-introduction"
categories: ["Pharynx"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo0Q7MYiOVE"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/anatomy-of-pharynx-introduction.png"
---

# Anatomy of Pharynx - Introduction

A guide to the Anatomy of Pharynx for medical students and ENT residents. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo0Q7MYiOVE

## 🧠 What is the Pharynx?

Pharynx is a long, muscular, funnel-shaped tube that serves as a shared passage for both the respiratory and digestive tracts.  

### 📏 Dimensions of Pharynx:
- Structurally, it resembles an **inverted cone**.  
 
- **Length**: Approximately **12 to 14 cm**

>Which is the widest and narrowest part of the Pharynx?

### 📍 Extent of the Pharynx

The pharynx extends from the **pharyngeal tubercle** at the base of the skull to the **lower border of the cricoid cartilage**, where it continues as the **oesophagus**.

### ⚙️ Functions of the Pharynx

- Respiration
- Digestion 
- Middle Ear Ventilation
- Speech

---

### 🧱 Layers of the Pharyngeal Wall

The wall of the pharynx consists of **five distinct layers** (from inner to outer):

**1- Mucosal Layer**

- **Nasopharynx** - Lined with **ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium** (respiratory type)  
- **Oropharynx & Laryngopharynx** - Lined with **non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium**

**2- Submucosal Layer (Lamina Propria)**

- Connective tissue layer containing **elastic fibers** and **gut-associated lymphoid tissue**.
- Houses **Waldeyer's Ring**, an important lymphoid structure involved in local immunity.

>What is the Waldeyer's Ring?

**3- Pharyngobasilar Fascia (Pharyngeal Aponeurosis)**

- Anchored to the **skull base**  
- Becomes **thickened near the base** due to the absence of muscle, providing structural integrity.

**4- Muscular Layer**

- **External circular muscles** - Superior, Middle, and Inferior constrictors  
- **Internal longitudinal muscles** - Stylopharyngeus, Salpingopharyngeus, Palatopharyngeus

>To learn more about the Origin, Insertions, Nerve Supply and Action of all the muscles, please purchase the notes.

**5- Buccopharyngeal Fascia**

- Thin **areolar tissue** covering the constrictors  
- Continues anteriorly with the fascia of the **buccinator**. 
- Contains the Pharyngeal plexus of veins and nerves.

--- 

### 🔀 Divisions of the Pharynx

The pharynx is divided into **3 anatomical parts**, based on their anterior communications:

**1- Nasopharynx**
- Located **behind the nasal cavity**  
- Connects via the **choanae**

**2- Oropharynx**
- Located **behind the oral cavity**  
- Connects via the **oropharyngeal isthmus**

**3- Laryngopharynx**
- Located **posterior to the larynx**  
- Connects to the larynx via the **laryngeal inlet**

---

## About This Note

This free ENT note on Anatomy of Pharynx - Introduction was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture.

Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/anatomy-of-pharynx-introduction

When citing or referencing this content, please credit The ENT Resident and link to the canonical page above.

## Related Notes by Category

- Pharynx: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/pharynx.md

## About The ENT Resident

The ENT Resident is an educational website and resource library created by Dr. Mausumi Das (MS ENT) for ENT residents, ENT postgraduates preparing for exams, and MBBS students.

Dr. Mausumi Das writes the notes, draws the diagrams, and records the lectures herself.

Browse all ENT notes and lectures on The ENT Resident: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures.md

## Medical-use Boundary

The ENT Resident provides educational material for medical learning and revision. It does not provide patient-specific medical advice, diagnosis, or emergency care, and it is not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

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