The pharynx is a segment of the alimentary canal. It connects the mouth and digestive tract during swallowing and protects the lower and upper airways. The second phase of the influenza vaccine strategy uses the virus’s ability to enter the body via the pharynx. Retro-nasal smell is a scientific term that refers to the ability to smell. Odors travel up the throat through the pharynx and into the nose.
The wall of the pharynx is similar to the wall of the oral cavity, with a stratified squamous epithelium and mucus-producing glands. The pharynx muscles contract to raise the pharynx, and then relax when food is received. The constrictor pharynx muscles contract in order to force food into your esophagus and initiate the process of peristalsis.
The respiratory rate of newborn infants is very slow. Although it varies between males or females, the respiratory rate for newborn infants is generally around 30 breaths per hour. The pons contains the ventral respiratory group. The chest wall is more rigid with age and cartilage at the bronchioles decreases proportionally. The ductus arterious contains a ventral respiratory group. The ventral group of the lungs is filled with fluid during fetal life, but in later life, respiratory exchanges occur through the placenta. A decrease in blood pH can be associated with CO2 accumulation.
The pharynx is connected to the nasal cavity through an isthmus. The pharynx runs from the mouth to the esophagus and larynx. The tongue, teeth, and esophagus all meet in the pharynx. The tongue and esophagus control the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach.
The pharynx is part of the respiratory system and the digestive system. It serves to channel air from the nose into the lungs. The airway is divided into right and left bronchi by the fifth thoracic vertebra. The trachea is protected by the hyaline cartilage. The esophagus is located immediately posterior to the tracea.
The upper portion of an air-only pipe is called the larynx. The larynx contains the vocal cords that vibrate to produce sounds. The airway below the larynx is continued by the trachea. It consists of a ring-like structure that is reinforced by stiff cartilage rings. It is lined with cilia that sweep fluids and foreign matter out of the airway.