THE PHARYNX. 141 



the tongue. The sublingual glands lie beneath the floor 

 of the mouth behind the submaxillary. 



The Fauces is the name given to the passage which 

 can be seen at the back of the mouth leading from it 

 into the pharynx, below the soft palate.* It is bounded 

 above by the soft palate and uvula, below by the root of 

 the tongue, and on the sides by muscles, covered by mucous 

 membrane, which reach from the soft palate to the tongue. 

 The muscles cause elevations known as the pillars of the 

 fauces. Each elevation divides near the tongue, and in 

 the hollow between its divisions lies a tonsil (7, Fig. 46), a 

 soft rounded body about the size of an almond, and con- 

 taining numerous minute glands which form mucus. 



Enlarged Tonsils. The tonsils not unfrequently become 

 enlarged during a cold or sore throat, and then pressing on 

 the Eustachian tube (Chap. XXI), which leads from the 

 throat to the middle ear, keep it closed and produce 

 temporary deafness. Sometimes the enlargement is perma- 

 nent and causes much annoyance. The tonsils can, how- 

 ever, be readily removed without danger, and this is the 

 treatment usually adopted in such cases. 



The Pharynx or Throat Cavity (Fig. 41). This portion 

 of the alimentary canal may be described as a conical bag 

 with its broad end turned towards the base of the skull 

 and its other end turned downwards and narrowing into 



Where do the sublingual glands lie? 



What is meant by the fauces? How are they bounded? What 

 are the pillars of the fauces? What is a tonsil? 



Why is temporary deafness not uncommon when we have a sore 

 throat? What is usually done when the tonsils are permanently 

 enlarged? 



Briefly describe the pharynx. 



* Observe for yourself with the help of a looking glass, 



