About the larynx and hypopharynx
The larynx, commonly called the voice box, is a tube-shaped organ in the neck that is important for breathing, talking, and swallowing. It is located at the top of the windpipe or trachea. The front walls protrude from the neck to form what most people call the Adam’s apple. The larynx contains the vocal folds (vocal cords) that vibrate to make sound for speech production. During breathing, the larynx opens like a valve to allow air to pass into the lungs. During swallowing, the vocal folds come together and, with a flap of tissue called the epiglottis, protect the airway and prevent food from entering to the lungs. There are three parts of the larynx:
Glottis. Middle section that holds the vocal fold
Supraglottis. Area above the vocal folds
Subglottis. Area below the vocal folds that connects the larynx to the windpipe
The hypopharynx (also called the gullet) is the lower part of the throat and surrounds the larynx. The pharynx (throat) is a hollow tube about five inches long that starts behind the nose (nasopharynx) and ends at the level of the larynx (laryngopharynx). The pharynx leads into the esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach).
About cancer in the larynx or hypopharynx
Cancer can begin in any part of the larynx or hypopharynx. Cancer occurs in the larynx or hypopharynx when normal cells change, grow without control, and no longer die, forming a mass of cells called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor can invade nearby tissues and/or spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
About 95% of all cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx are of the squamous cell carcinoma type, meaning they begin in the flat, squamous cells in the lining of the organs.
Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers are among the main types of cancer in the head and neck region, a grouping called head and neck cancer. This section covers both laryngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer together since treatments are often similar, but these are two separate types of cancer.
Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.
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Last Updated: January 03, 2012
