Fauces

The fauces is the oropharyngeal region that connects the oral cavity proper to the oropharynx. It forms the passage between the mouth and the pharynx and serves as an important route for the movement of food, fluids, and air.

Boundaries

• Superiorly, the fauces is bounded by the soft palate,

• Inferiorly by the posterior part of the tongue, and

• Laterally by the right and left palatoglossal arches, which contain the palatoglossus muscles. During swallowing, these muscles help narrow the opening of the fauces to prevent the regurgitation of food into the oral cavity.

Posterior relations

Posterior to the fauces lies the oropharynx. Posterolaterally, we can find the palatine tonsils located on either side between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches.

Note

Sometimes, the terms fauces and isthmus of the fauces are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle anatomical difference. The fauces refers to the general region at the back of the oral cavity that leads into the oropharynx, whereas the isthmus of the fauces (or oropharyngeal isthmus) specifically refers to the actual narrow opening or constricted passage within the fauces that connects the oral cavity proper to the oropharynx.