Throat is a term loosely applied to the part of the neck in front of the backbone. The throat contains structures important in breathing and eating. It includes the pharynx, the larynx, part of the esophagus, and part of the trachea. A sore throat results when any of these parts becomes inflamed.
When a person breathes, air enters the nose and travels through a passage called the pharynx. From the pharynx, it passes into the larynx (voice box), then through the trachea (windpipe), and into the lungs. Food, on its way from the mouth to the stomach, passes through the pharynx before it enters the esophagus, the tube that leads to the stomach. Thus, part of the pharynx is a common passage for both food and air. The routes of food and air cross one another in this passage, and it is possible for food to enter the wrong tube.
Normally, when a person swallows, two actions take place to block off the air passage. The soft palate presses against the back of the pharynx, closing the opening to the nose. At the same time, the larynx rises and is covered by the epiglottis, a leaf-shaped lid. These actions force the food into its own passage, the esophagus, and muscular waves carry it to the stomach. When a person laughs or talks while swallowing, food may enter the larynx and choke the person until it is removed by coughing.
The largest muscle of the throat region is the sternocleidomastoid. It moves the head. This muscle looks like a cord in the side of the neck when the head is turned. It runs diagonally across each side of the neck from the collarbone to the skull behind the ear. Smaller muscles in the throat help in the actions of breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
Large arteries and veins pass through the neck. They carry blood to and away from the face, scalp, and brain. Unconsciousness may result from blockage of the arteries on each side of the trachea.
