hypopharynx

The hypopharynx is the lowest part of the pharynx, situated directly above the larynx. It serves as a crucial junction where the pathways for air and food cross. Air from the nasal cavity moves into the larynx, while food from the oral cavity is directed to the esophagus, located behind the larynx. The epiglottis, a leaf-shaped flap, acts as a lid to the larynx, guiding food into the esophagus during swallowing. The pharynx itself is a cone-shaped passageway connecting the nasal and oral cavities to the esophagus and larynx, functioning in both respiration and digestion. It is divided into three sections: the nasopharynx, the oral pharynx, and the laryngeal pharynx (which includes the hypopharynx).123