In the structure of the human body, it is possible to distinguish areas in which parts of various physiological systems are located, united by common anatomical and physiological features. These include, for example, the throat - an area in which there are elements of two systems - the respiratory and digestive. The structure of the human throat, as well as the functions of its departments will be discussed in this article.
Anatomical features of the throat
The structure of the human throat, the scheme of which is given below, indicates the area starting with two cavities: nasal and oral, and ending, respectively, with the trachea and esophagus. Therefore, one part of the throat, related to the digestive system, is called the pharynx, that is, the pharynx, and the other, which is an element of the respiratory system, is called the larynx (larynx). The pharynx is the border area between the oral cavity and the esophagus. Food crushed by teeth, moistened with saliva and partially split under the action of its enzymes, falls on the root of the tongue. Irritation of its receptors causes a reflex contraction of the muscles of the soft palate, which leads to the closing of the entrance to the nasalcavity. At the same moment, the entrance to the larynx is blocked by the epiglottis.
Squeezing the muscles of the pharynx pushes the food bolus into the esophagus, which, in a wave-like contraction, advances it into the stomach. Pharynx, or larynx, as mentioned earlier, is part of the respiratory system. Air enters it from the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and oropharynx, while being partially warmed and cleaned of dust particles. In the larynx, consisting of paired and unpaired cartilages with a hyaline base, there are two elastic fibers - the vocal cords, between them is the glottis. The lower part of the larynx passes into the trachea. Its anterior wall is formed by cartilaginous half-rings that do not allow the breathing tube to reduce its diameter. The posterior wall of the trachea is made up of smooth muscle. Air from the trachea freely enters the bronchi, and from them - into the lungs.
Barrier role of tonsils
Studying the structure of the human throat, let's focus on accumulations of lymphoid tissue called tonsils. They are formed by a special histological structure - the parenchyma, scattered in the stroma, consisting of connective tissue. In the tonsils, the formation of lymphocytes takes place - the main immune-forming elements of the body's defense against pathogenic microbes. This process is called lymphopoiesis. Considering the anatomical structure of the human throat, whose tonsils are differentiated into palatine, sublingual and pharyngeal, scientists came to the conclusion that such an arrangement indicates their barrier function.
Moreover, in laryngology it is customary to talk about the lymphoepithelial ring located in the mucous membrane at the border of the oral cavity and pharynx - the Pirogov-Waldeyer ring. In immunology, the tonsils are called the peripheral organ of immunity. They surround the vestibule of the trachea and esophagus, protecting the respiratory and digestive systems from the penetration of pathogenic microflora. The anatomical and physiological structure of the human throat, whose lymph nodes provide protection and a barrier from the harmful effects of the external environment, will be incomplete if we do not dwell on such structures of the tonsils as lacunae.
Specific functions of gaps
These are the areas of the lymph nodes that are the first to take the blow of a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection that enters the oral cavity. A huge number of lymphocytes neutralize and digest bacteria, dying in the process.
The accumulation of dead lymphoid cells forms purulent plugs in the lacunae, indicating an inflammatory process that occurs in response to infection entering the body.
Larinx as a voice-forming organ
Earlier, we have already considered the two most important functions of the larynx: its participation in breathing and protection (the epiglottis at the time of swallowing food closes the entrance to the larynx, thereby preventing solid particles from entering the trachea and causing suffocation). There is another function of the pharynx, which we will determine by continuing to study the structure of the human throat. It concerns such a property of our body as the ability toto sound production and oral speech. Recall that the larynx is made up of cartilage.
Between the arytenoid cartilages, which have processes, there are vocal cords - two very flexible and springy fibers. At the moment of silence, the vocal cords diverge, and between them the glottis is clearly visible, which has the form of an isosceles triangle. During singing or speaking, the vocal cords close, and the air that has risen from the lungs at the moment of exhalation causes their rhythmic vibrations, which we perceive as sounds. Modulation of sounds occurs due to changes in the position of the tongue, lips, cheeks, jaws.
Gender differences in the structure of the throat
There are several anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the human throat associated with gender. In men, in the larynx, the cartilages are connected in the anterior-upper part of the larynx, forming a protrusion - Adam's apple or Adam's apple.
In women, the angle of connection of the parts of the thyroid cartilage is larger, and visually such a protrusion cannot be detected. There is also a difference in the structure of the vocal cords. In men, they are longer and thicker, and the voice itself is low. Women's vocal cords are thinner and shorter, their voice is higher and louder.
This article examined the anatomical and physiological aspects of the structure of the human throat.
