Similar term(s): nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx.
Definition:
The pharynx is the part of the digestive system of many animals immediately
behind the mouth and in front of the
esophagus. In mammals, it is where the
digestive tract and the respiratory tract cross, commonly called the "throat"
(which term may also include the larynx). The human pharynx is bent at a sharper
angle than other mammal pharynges, enabling us to produce a wider variety of
sounds, but also putting us in danger of choking.
The human pharynx is divided into three sections: the
nasopharynx, lying behind the nasal cavity; the
oropharynx, behind the oral cavity [including soft palate,
base of the tongue and tonsils]; and the laryngopharynx [also
named hypopharynx], posterior to the larynx.
Source: GreenFacts
More:
Graphic representation of the digestive and respiratory tracts
