Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pharynx

Pharynx

The pharynx, a tubular structure framed by skeletal muscle and lined with mucous membrane, extends continuously from the nasal cavities. It is segmented into three major areas: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...

Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract

Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract

The upper respiratory tract plays a vital role in the respiratory system, comprising several structures that facilitate air intake and prepare air for the lungs. It also serves as the first line of defense against pathogens and particles. This tract includes the nose and nasal cavity, the oral cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the pharynx, each with specific functions and features.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.

Esophagus

Esophagus

The esophagus, a muscular conduit linking the pharynx and stomach, measures roughly 10 inches (25.4 cm) and sits behind the trachea. It remains collapsed when not swallowing. The esophagus follows a predominantly straight path through the thoracic mediastinum and enters the abdominal cavity through a diaphragmatic opening known as the esophageal hiatus.
The movement of edibles from the pharynx into the esophagus is facilitated by the upper esophageal sphincter, which is formed primarily by the...

The Hyoid Bone

The Hyoid Bone

The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the upper neck at the level of the inferior mandible, with its tips pointing posteriorly. It does not directly articulate with any other bone in the body. The hyoid acts as the attachment site for the tongue, the larynx, and the pharynx. It is held in position by a series of small muscles attached from above or below. These muscles help to move the hyoid up/down or forward/back in coordination with movements of the tongue, larynx, and pharynx...

Trachea

Trachea

The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a vital part of the human respiratory system. It serves as a passageway for air to travel between the larynx and the bronchi, allowing oxygen to reach the lungs. Let's explore its anatomical features, dimensions, layers of the tracheal wall, associated muscles, and the functions of its parts.
Anatomical Features:
Location: About half of the trachea is situated in the neck, anterior to the esophagus, and extends from the larynx (at the level of the...

Deglutition

Deglutition

Swallowing, otherwise known as deglutition, facilitates the transport of food from the mouth to the stomach. It is a multifaceted process that involves both the tongue and the muscles of the throat and esophagus. Saliva and mucus aid in this process, which takes approximately 4 to 8 seconds for semi-solid or solid food and around 1 second for liquids or very soft food.
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Circadian Disruption Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026

Same author

Correction to: Sleep architecture and quality of life in comorbid OSA and depression: cross-sectional analysis of the Sydney sleep biobank.

Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung·2026

Same author

Craniofacial photography for detection of positional obstructive sleep apnoea.

Sleep and biological rhythms·2026

Same author

Relationship Between Framingham 10-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score and Pulse Wave Amplitude Drop Characteristics in a Sleep Clinic Cohort.

Chest·2025

Same author

Lung volume modulation of sternohyoid muscle function: an anesthetized rat model.

Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2025

Same author

Quantitative assessment of lung opacities from CT of pulmonary artery imaging data in COVID-19 patients: artificial intelligence versus radiologist.

BJR open·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Published on: May 6, 2014

Is the pharynx a muscular hydrostat?

Kristina Kairaitis¹

¹Ludwig Engel Centre for Respiratory Research, Westmead Millennium Institute and the University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. kristina_kairaitis@wmi.usyd.edu.au

Medical Hypotheses

|January 9, 2010

Summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may stem from pharyngeal muscles acting as a muscular hydrostat. This model suggests airway collapse occurs due to altered muscle function and pressure, offering new therapeutic targets for OSA.

More Related Videos

Chemical Amputation and Regeneration of the Pharynx in the Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

Chemical Amputation and Regeneration of the Pharynx in the Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

Published on: March 26, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Published on: May 6, 2014

Chemical Amputation and Regeneration of the Pharynx in the Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

Chemical Amputation and Regeneration of the Pharynx in the Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

Published on: March 26, 2018

Area of Science:

Physiology
Biomechanics
Sleep Medicine

Background:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pathogenesis involves pharyngeal airway collapse during sleep.
The interplay of pharyngeal airway size and neuro-mechanical control is crucial for airway patency.
The integrated function of pharyngeal muscles in airway dynamics is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that pharyngeal muscles function as a muscular hydrostat.
To explore how muscle contraction influences pharyngeal airway shape and patency.
To elucidate the role of transmural pressure distribution in pharyngeal airway stability.

Main Methods:

Conceptualizing the pharynx as a muscular hydrostat, an organ composed of incompressible muscle tissue.
Analyzing the complex arrangement of 20 pharyngeal muscles and their integrated function.
Reviewing existing evidence on muscle activation, respiration, intra-luminal pressure, and hyoid bone position.

Main Results:

Pharyngeal muscles, like other muscular hydrostats, maintain constant volume during contraction.
Muscle contraction alters tissue pressure, influencing pharyngeal shape and airway patency.
Anatomical abnormalities in OSA may disrupt integrated muscular function, leading to airway collapse.

Conclusions:

The muscular hydrostat model provides a novel framework for understanding pharyngeal airway mechanics.
Dysfunctional muscular hydrostat action in the pharynx may contribute significantly to OSA pathogenesis.
This paradigm shift could reveal new therapeutic strategies for obstructive sleep apnea.