Q38: Other congenital malformations of tongue, mouth and pharynx
Q38.8: Other congenital malformations of pharynx
The throat is a tube of muscle coated with mucous membrane. A mucous membrane is a moist skin. The throat or pharynx is behind the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. It connects the mouth and nose with the windpipe (trachea) and gullet (oesophagus). There are 3 parts to the pharynx, from top to bottom. At the top the pharynx is connected to the nasal cavity, so this part is called the nasopharynx. In the middle the pharynx is connected to the oral cavity, so this part is called the oropharynx. The lower pharynx is the lowest of the 3 sections. The lower pharynx is connected to the trachea and the oesophagus.
While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. If tissue fails to develop properly, defects can occur.
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