pharyng

Pharyng- is a combining form in medical terminology that denotes relation to the pharynx, the muscular tube at the back of the throat. The term derives from the Greek word for throat and is used to form medical terms that pertain to the pharyngeal region.

The pharynx connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus and serves both respiratory and digestive functions. It is traditionally divided into three regions: the nasopharynx (behind the nasal cavity), the oropharynx (behind the oral cavity), and the hypopharynx, also called the laryngopharynx (above the larynx and esophagus). The pharyngeal walls contain muscles that assist in swallowing, and the region houses lymphoid tissue such as the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids) in the nasopharynx.

In medical terminology, pharyng- appears in a range of terms, including pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx), pharyngology (the study of the pharynx), pharyngoplasty (surgical repair of the pharynx), and pharyngoscope or pharyngoscopy (an instrument or procedure for inspecting the pharynx). The combining form is commonly paired with suffixes and other roots to describe conditions, procedures, and anatomy related to the throat.

Clinically, conditions involving the pharynx are encountered across otolaryngology and allergy medicine, often presenting with sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or nasal congestion. Treatment and management depend on the underlying cause, ranging from supportive care for viral infections to targeted therapies for bacterial infections or structural abnormalities.

See also: pharynx, pharyngeal, pharyngitis, pharyngology, pharyngoscopy.