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Glite Dictionary
hypopharynx

hypopharynx

1 9.9
The lower part of the throat behind the voice box that leads to the food pipe
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpəˈfɛrɪŋks/
  • Specialized
: hipofaringe
  • The doctor explained that the hypopharynx is located just behind the larynx, leading to the esophagus.
  • hypopharynx and esophagus
  • oropharynx and hypopharynx
  • larynx and hypopharynx

Examples

  • Foreign bodies in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus, particularly fish bones, are a common complaint in otolaryngologic practice.

    Academic text (2006)

  • On endoscopic examination with general anesthesia, no foreign body was found in the lumen of the hypopharynx and esophagus.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Only 10 to 20% have obstructions only at the hypopharynx.

    Academic text (1999)

  • When the pharyngeal sensor was too high in the hypopharynx, it was not in contact with the mucosa and it dried out.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Lateral neck x-ray demonstrated a radiopaque shadow at the level of the hypopharynx.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The three major regions of obstruction are the nose, palate (pharynx), and base of tongue (hypopharynx).

    Academic text (1999)

  • Perforations of the hypopharynx and esophagus in children during endoscopy or insertion of endotracheal and nasogastric tubes are not uncommon.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Esophagoscopy was unable to locate the foreign body in the hypopharynx or esophagus, but contrast-enhanced CT of the neck revealed that the foreign body was embedded in the right lobe of the thyroid.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The sites of involvement in decreasing order of frequency are the nasal mucosa, nasopharynx, larynx, oro- and hypopharynx, and the esophagus.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The significance of these lymph nodes as potential sites of metastasis from carcinomas of the oropharynx and hypopharynx has been documented previously, first by Ballantyne, and most recently by Hasegawa and Matsura.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

pharynx
vshypopharynx
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A muscular tube in the throat that connects the mouth and nose to the voice box and the food pipe

is a lower nearby area behind the larynx that opens into the esophagus
laryngopharynx
vshypopharynx
  • Specialized
9.9

The lower part of the throat behind the voice box that leads to the food pipe

is the part specifically behind and beside the larynx leading into the esophagus

Surface Forms

hypopharynx singular
hypopharynges plural

Morphology

hypopharynx = pharynx (semi-transparent) = hypo + pharynx

The term is formed regularly from the prefix 'hypo-' meaning below and 'pharynx', but the anatomical vocabulary makes it somewhat specialized for average learners.

Etymology

Hypopharynx is made of hypo- meaning 'under' and pharynx meaning 'throat', so it names the part of the throat that sits 'under' and behind the voice box.