keelholte

Keelholte is the Dutch term for the pharynx, a muscular tube that serves as a common pathway for air and food. It lies behind the nasal and oral cavities and extends from the base of the skull to the esophagus and the larynx. The pharynx connects the nasal cavity and the mouth to the esophagus and the larynx, participating in both respiration and digestion.

The pharynx is traditionally divided into three regions: the nasopharynx, behind the nasal cavity; the oropharynx, behind the oral cavity; and the laryngopharynx, behind the larynx. The nasopharynx contains the pharyngeal tonsil, while the oropharynx includes the palatine and lingual tonsils. The laryngopharynx opens into the larynx above the esophagus and helps direct food toward the esophagus during swallowing.

The lining of the keelholte varies by region: the nasopharynx typically has ciliated epithelium, whereas the oropharynx and laryngopharynx are lined with non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium to resist abrasion. The wall contains pharyngeal constrictor muscles that constrict the lumen during swallowing, aided by longitudinal muscles that shorten and widen the pharynx.

Innervation is via the pharyngeal plexus, receiving fibers from the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Blood supply comes from branches of the external carotid artery, including the ascending pharyngeal and tonsillar arteries. Clinically, the keelholte is a common site for infections such as pharyngitis and tonsillitis, as well as tumors and dysphagia affecting swallowing.