The key difference between pharynx and larynx is that the pharynx is a passage for both air and food, serving as part of both the respiratory and digestive systems, while the larynx is responsible for sound production and is part of the respiratory system, housing the vocal cords for speech.
Frequently, people tend to interchangeably refer to the pharynx as the larynx and vice versa, given their close proximity and similar sounding names. Nonetheless, these two organs are distinct in various aspects. This article outlines the differences between these two bodily organs, detailing their anatomy and functions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is the Pharynx
3. What is the Larynx
4. Similarities – Pharynx and Larynx
5. Pharynx vs Larynx in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pharynx vs Larynx
What is the Pharynx?
The pharynx is a region in the throat, posterior to the nasal and oral cavities and superior to the esophagus. There are three major distinct regions of the pharynx: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The oropharynx and laryngopharynx are shared by both the respiratory and digestive systems. The nasopharynx is the cavity around the nasal cavity, the most cephalad portion of the region, and it extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate. The Eustachian tube opens into the nasopharynx, which is important to maintain the pressure of the auditory system. As the terminology indicates, the oropharynx is located posterior to the oral cavity. The laryngopharynx is the most posterior portion of the pharynx, and it connects with the oesophagus and the larynx. However, out of all the three parts of the pharynx, the nasopharynx is the most complex structure, while the other two are simple cavities.
What is the Larynx?
Commonly known as the voice box, the larynx is responsible for producing sound when exhaling air from the lungs. The larynx is located at the junction of the trachea and oesophagus, and it opens into the laryngopharynx. Apart from the main function of producing sound, the larynx passively prevents food particles from entering the respiratory system or the trachea by acting as a barrier. The vocal cords within the larynx are arranged to create distinct, audible sounds. These cords are upheld by a set of nine cartilages within the larynx. As air is exhaled from the lungs, the vocal cords vibrate, generating sound, which is then modulated by the tongue into words. The pitch of the sound, known as frequency, is controlled by the airflow speed. In humans, individual differences in endocrine and nervous changes lead to variations in pitch and voice weight (loudness).
The amphibians were the first known animals to have a larynx for sound production in terms of communication, but recent research studies have revealed that most of the fish species have their own means of sound production through larynx-like organs. However, in humans, the particular quality of the sound or voice is unique for each individual. In other words, no matter how a person tries to change his or her voice in many ways, a person’s voice has a special quality that is unique to him or her. That means the vocal cord vibrations and other structures related to the larynx are unique for each individual.
What are the Similarities Between Pharynx and Larynx?
- Both the pharynx and larynx are located in the neck region.
- They both play roles in the respiratory system, aiding in the passage of air.
- Both the pharynx and larynx are connected to the trachea.
- Both have protective mechanisms; the larynx prevents food from entering the respiratory system, and the pharynx’s epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea.
What is the Difference Between Pharynx and Larynx?
The pharynx is a tube-like structure located in the throat, behind the nasal and oral cavities, and above the esophagus and larynx. It serves as a common passage for both air and food. On the other hand, the larynx, commonly known as the voice box, is situated in the neck region. It is specifically involved in sound production and voice modulation. This is the key difference between pharynx and larynx.
The pharynx is a part of both the respiratory and digestive systems while the larynx is part of the respiratory system and is connected to the trachea. Moreover, the larynx is cartilaginous, while the pharynx is muscular. In addition, the larynx possesses vocal cords, unlike the pharynx.
The following table summarizes the difference between pharynx and larynx.
Summary – Pharynx vs Larynx
The key difference between pharynx and larynx is that the pharynx is a passage for both air and food, serving as part of both the respiratory and digestive systems, while the larynx is responsible for sound production and is part of the respiratory system, housing the vocal cords for speech.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Larynx and Pharynx Anatomical Relationship” By סתו כסלו – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia