The pharynx is a muscular funnel-shaped passageway located posterior to the nasal and oral cavities and above the esophagus and larynx.

It is involved in both the digestive and respiratory systems.

As a part of the digestive tract, the pharynx allows the passage of swallowed solids and liquids into the esophagus.

It extends from the external cranial base to the sixth cervical vertebra (C6).

Superior and anterior is located the nasal cavity, but inferior it continues with the esophagus. Anterior is the oral cavity and larynx, but posterior is the cervical part of the spine, deep muscles, fascia of the neck, and the retropharyngeal space.

The pharynx can be divided into three anatomical segments:

Nasopharynx - it is the most upper or the superior division; located in the posterior section of the nasal cavity, connecting it with the oropharynx; nasopharynx is involved only in respiratory processes, therefore it is a part of the respiratory system; nasopharynx connects with the nasal cavity by two openings called choanae; in the middle of the lateral walls are located pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube which connects the pharynx with the tympanic cavity located in the middle ear; nasopharynx contains one pharyngeal tonsil; it contains two more tonsils, located next to and around the opening of the auditory tube, they are called the tubal tonsils;
Oropharynx - it is located at the posterior section of the oral cavity and travels down the throat to the epiglottis, where the laryngopharynx begins; it has only one opening called the oropharyngeal isthmus connecting the oropharynx with the oral cavity; it contains one lingual and two palatine tonsils;
Laryngopharynx - it is the final part that distally continues with the esophagus; it is also called the hypopharynx; it goes from the superior border of the epiglottis till the esophagus; it has two openings - the laryngeal inlet or aditus, which leads to the larynx and the esophageal opening; on the sides of the laryngeal inlet are located piriform sinuses or fossae which are common sites for entrapment of foreign bodies.

The pharyngeal wall is composed of four layers:

Mucous membrane
Submucosa
Muscular layer
Adventitia

Functions of the pharynx include:

Passage for the food and air
Peristalsis and food bolus moving, swallowing
Speech sound formation
Voice production and resonance
Participation in taste sensation creation
Air conditioning
Local immunity providence
Defense against various harmful antigenes
Drainage of secretion from oral and nasal cavities and middle ear
Pressure equalization on both sides of the tympanic membrane

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Pharynx