The hyopharynx is the funnel-shaped part of the throat on either side of the larynx stretching between the hyoid bone and joining the upper oesophagus at the level of the cricoid cartilage.  It consists of three parts (subsites): the two piriform fossae, the posterior pharyngeal wall and the postcricoid region.  Air passes through the upper part into the larynx and food also passes through the area into the oesophagus. Sound waves produced by the larynx resonate in this area to produce a dark sound colour. It is more open in the Neutral and Curbing and completely closed off in Edge.