Final answer:
The anatomical term for the chamber shared by both the digestive and respiratory systems in horses is the pharynx. It is involved in both swallowing and breathing, directing food to the esophagus and air to the larynx.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anatomical term for the musculo-membranous chamber that is common to both the digestive and respiratory systems in horses is the pharynx. The pharynx plays a critical role as it is involved in both respiration and digestion. For respiration, it conducts air between the nasal cavity and the larynx. In terms of digestion, it allows swallowed food to pass from the oral cavity to the esophagus. The epiglottis, a flap of elastic cartilage, plays an essential role during swallowing by closing over the opening to the larynx to prevent food or drinks from entering it.
The pharynx is a short tube of skeletal muscle lined with a mucous membrane, running from the posterior oral and nasal cavities to the esophagus and larynx, and is divided into three major regions: the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the laryngopharynx. The laryngopharynx connects to the esophagus, facilitating the movement of food, and to the larynx allowing air to flow to the respiratory system.