Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The laryngeal pharynx is the lowest part of the pharynx, beginning at the epiglottis and extending down to the esophagus. Its primary function is to regulate the passage of air to the lungs and food to the esophagus. The pharynx itself is a cone-shaped passageway that connects the nasal and oral cavities to the esophagus and larynx. It is composed of muscle and connective tissue that aid in swallowing by pushing food toward the esophagus and preventing air from being swallowed. The pharynx has three main divisions: the nasal pharynx, the oral pharynx, and the laryngeal pharynx.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.