oropharynx
Behind the tongue
The oropharynx is the middle section of the throat, located behind the mouth.
It extends from the soft palate down to the epiglottis and includes the back of the tongue, tonsils, and surrounding walls.
When a doctor asks you to open wide and say "ah," they're examining your oropharynx.
Soft palate pendant
- tonsilsThroat's lymphoid tissue
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
- soft palateFlexible rear mouth roof
- hypopharynxLowest pharyngeal cavity region
palatine · adenoids · mucosa · epithelium
Passage for breath
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
- snoringNoisy breathing while asleep
CPAP · intubation · aspiration · upper airway · patency · collapse · ventilation · oxygen
Act of swallowing
- dysphagiaMedical swallowing difficulty
- bolusChewed food mass
- esophagusFood tube to stomach
- peristalsisInvoluntary digestive muscle waves
aspiration · gag reflex · swallow · chewing · mastication · saliva
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- HPVCommon sexually transmitted virus
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- tonsillitisInflamed throat tissue
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
inflammation · lesion · biopsy · staging · malignancy · metastasis · lymphoma · abscess
Clear vocal expression
- phonationVocal fold vibration
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- voiceSound from throat
pronunciation · consonants · vowels · velopharyngeal · nasality · enunciation · phonetics
uvula
Soft palate pendant
- tonsilsThroat's lymphoid tissue
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
- soft palateFlexible rear mouth roof
hypopharynx · palatine · adenoids · mucosa · epithelium
airway
Passage for breath
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
snoring · CPAP · intubation · aspiration · upper airway · patency · collapse · ventilation · oxygen · inhalation
deglutition
Act of swallowing
peristalsis · aspiration · gag reflex · swallow · chewing · mastication · saliva
cancer
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- HPVCommon sexually transmitted virus
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- tonsillitisInflamed throat tissue
infection · inflammation · lesion · biopsy · staging · malignancy · metastasis · lymphoma · abscess · thrush
articulation
Clear vocal expression
- phonationVocal fold vibration
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
voice · pronunciation · consonants · vowels · velopharyngeal · nasality · enunciation · phonetics
oropharynxnasopharynx
Upper pharyngeal region
hypopharynx · larynx · voice box · nasal cavity · glottis
oropharynxnasal passages
Airways inside the nose
trachea · oral cavity · bronchi · sinuses
oral, pharynx, pharyngeal, pharyngitis, nasopharynx, pharynges, nasopharyngeal