epiglottis
Airway food guard
The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage at the base of the tongue that covers the windpipe during swallowing, preventing food and liquid from entering the lungs.
It functions automatically—you don't think about it until something "goes down the wrong pipe," meaning the epiglottis failed to close in time.
Speech-producing throat organ
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
- tracheaRespiratory airway tube
- cartilageFlexible connective body tissue
- hyoidHorseshoe-shaped throat bone
thyroid · vocal cords · esophagus · laryngeal · mucosa · epithelium · oropharynx · nasopharynx
Act of swallowing
- bolusChewed food mass
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- peristalsisInvoluntary digestive muscle waves
- pharyngealOf the throat cavity
esophagus · saliva · gullet · chewing · ingestion · gag reflex · dysphagia
Passage for breath
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- tracheaRespiratory airway tube
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
inhalation · exhalation · ventilation · respiration · bronchi · lungs · airflow · pulmonary
Inflamed laryngeal cartilage flap
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- stridorTurbulent airway noise
- intubationPlacing airway tube
pediatric · swelling · obstruction · biopsy · endoscopy · laryngoscopy · fever · sore throat
Vocal fold vibration
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- articulationClear vocal expression
- laryngealOf the voice organ
- voice productionCreating speech sounds
larynx
Speech-producing throat organ
hyoid · thyroid · vocal cords · esophagus · laryngeal · mucosa · epithelium · oropharynx · nasopharynx · hypopharynx
deglutition
Act of swallowing
- bolusChewed food mass
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- peristalsisInvoluntary digestive muscle waves
pharyngeal · esophagus · saliva · gullet · chewing · ingestion · gag reflex · dysphagia
airway
Passage for breath
aspiration · inhalation · exhalation · ventilation · respiration · bronchi · lungs · airflow · pulmonary · cough reflex
epiglottitis
Inflamed laryngeal cartilage flap
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- stridorTurbulent airway noise
intubation · pediatric · swelling · obstruction · biopsy · endoscopy · laryngoscopy · fever · sore throat
phonation
Vocal fold vibration
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- articulationClear vocal expression
- laryngealOf the voice organ
- cartilagecartilage, fibrocartilage, meniscus, gristle, arytenoid cartilage
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- Respirationbreathing, lungs, inhalation, inhaling, exhalation
- Neckneck, throat, Adam's apple, larynx, trachea
- throatthroat, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, tonsils
- respiratory systemlungs, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, airways