Which structure extends vertically from the back of the mouth to the esophagus and trachea?

The structure that extends vertically from the back of the mouth to the esophagus and trachea is the oropharynx. This area is part of the pharynx and lies behind the oral cavity. It plays a crucial role in both the respiratory and digestive systems by serving as a passageway for food and air.

When food is swallowed, it moves from the oral cavity into the oropharynx, where it then descends into the esophagus. Simultaneously, this area also allows air to pass from the mouth into the trachea and then into the lungs. The oropharynx acts as a common passage for both air and food, effectively connecting the mouth to both the esophageal opening and the larynx, which leads to the trachea.

Other structures like the nasopharynx, which is located above the oropharynx and primarily involved in air passage, and the larynx, which serves as the voice box and is located below the oropharynx, do not extend from the back of the mouth to these openings in the same way. The Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, does not have a direct role in the passage