Your throat is called the pharynx.
The pharynx is a muscular tube located in the neck that plays a crucial role in both the respiratory and digestive systems. It serves as a passageway for air and food.
Here's a breakdown of the pharynx:
- Location: It's positioned behind the nasal cavity and mouth, extending down to the larynx and esophagus.
- Function:
- Respiration: It conducts air from the nasal cavity to the larynx (voice box) and then into the trachea (windpipe).
- Digestion: It facilitates the swallowing process, moving food from the mouth into the esophagus.
- Divisions: The pharynx is divided into three main sections:
- Nasopharynx: Located behind the nasal cavity. It contains the adenoids and the opening of the Eustachian tubes, which connect to the middle ear.
- Oropharynx: Located behind the oral cavity (mouth). It contains the tonsils.
- Laryngopharynx (Hypopharynx): Located behind the larynx. It's the point where the respiratory and digestive pathways diverge.
Therefore, when someone asks "What is your throat called?" the correct anatomical term is the pharynx.
