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 pharynx attaches to the larynx, which is the first element of the airways. 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; and the laryngopharynx, posterior to the larynx.
The laryngopharynx extends from the superior border of the epiglottis to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage, where it becomes continuous with the esophagus.
The pharyngeal ridge is an elevation or bar on the posterior wall of the pharynx inferior to the level of the soft palate; it is produced during swallowing by transverse muscle fibers.
The epiglottis is attached by ligaments to the hyoid bone, to the posterior aspect of the tongue, to the sides of the pharynx, and to the thyroid cartilage.
This means that our practice encompasses microsurgery on the vocal folds as a large part on one end of the spectrum, up to and including the big operations of larynx cancer and larynx and tracheal reconstruction, on the other end of the spectrum.
Laryngopharynx: Refers to the anatomical region that begins roughly at the base (back) of the tongue and goes down to the level of the upper part of the trachea/esophagus low in the neck.
Laryngopharynx reflux disease: A constellation of symptoms and findings caused by reflux (backwards flow) of stomach acid into the throat or larynx, typically during sleep.
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