HB-053 · Respiratory · Part
Pharynx and larynx
Also called: throat and voice box Pharynx et larynx
3D anatomy data Classes 9-10 · Classes 11-12 Intermediate Draft - educator review
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Parts: nasopharynx; oropharynx; laryngopharynx; epiglottis; vocal folds
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About
The pharynx is a shared passage for food and air; the larynx below it protects the airway and makes the voice.
- 📍 Where it is
- Neck: the pharynx behind the nose and mouth, the larynx in front at the level of C3-C6.
- 🧱 Structure
- Larynx: thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid and epiglottic cartilages, vocal ligaments and small muscles; pharynx: constrictor muscles.
- ⚙️ What it does
- Swallowing, breathing, closing the airway during swallowing and producing sound.
💡 Key facts
- The epiglottis covers the larynx when you swallow.
- The Adam's apple is the thyroid cartilage.
- Vocal cords vibrate to make sound.
✗ Food and air use completely separate tubes from the mouth
✓ They share the pharynx; the epiglottis directs food away.
📒 Words to know
- larynx
- voice box
- epiglottis
- flap that guards the airway
- pharynx
- throat
🏫 Related lessons
- Animals: life processes and reproduction Classes 6-8
- Life processes Classes 9-10
- Yoga, breathing and mindfulness Classes 6-8
Generic GayaGnan topic lessons. Check your own board's syllabus for the exact chapter.
🔎 Sources and credits
Catalog description: Shared throat passage and voice box.
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, ch. 22 (respiratory system) (accessed 2026-10-30)
- 3D models: BodyParts3D (DBCLS) and the Human Reference Atlas (HuBMAP), CC BY 4.0, with GayaGnan schematics. 3D model credits
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