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What are the three sections of the pharynx?

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Illustration showing different animals and their respiratory organs: a spider with book lungs, a chicken with lungs, a sponge with labeled inflow and outflow pores, a fish with gills, and a caterpillar with spiracles. — Respiratory system Different methods of respiration in animals.

The pharynx is a cone-shaped passageway that serves both respiratory and digestive functions. Anatomically, it is divided into three distinct sections:

Nasopharynx: The upper portion, which is continuous with the nasal cavities and serves primarily as a passageway for air.123
Oropharynx: The middle section, which begins at the back of the mouth and is shared by both the respiratory and digestive tracts.124
Laryngeal pharynx (or hypopharynx): The lower section, which begins at the epiglottis and leads to the esophagus, regulating the passage of air to the lungs and food to the esophagus.124