upper airway
Nose to larynx
The upper airway is the portion of the respiratory tract above the larynx—the nose, mouth, pharynx, and the larynx itself.
Medical contexts distinguish it from the lower airway (trachea and lungs): upper airway obstruction, upper airway resistance syndrome.
The term appears most often in discussions of breathing problems, sleep apnea, and anesthesia.
Disorder of interrupted breathing
- snoringNoisy breathing while asleep
- laryngitisInflamed voice box condition
- pharyngitisInflamed upper airway lining
- tonsillitisInflamed throat tissue
nasal polyps · deviated septum · rhinitis · sinusitis · subglottic stenosis · postnasal drip
Muscular throat cavity
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- nasopharynxUpper pharyngeal region
- oropharynxMid-throat cavity
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
glottis · tonsils · adenoids · uvula · soft palate · turbinates · nasal cavity · vocal cords
Blocked airway condition
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- occlusionComplete closure or blockage
- stridorTurbulent airway noise
croup · epiglottitis · foreign body · angioedema · laryngospasm · anaphylaxis · swelling · secretions
Taking breath in
- exhalationBreathing out air
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- nasal breathingAirflow via nasal passages
- mouth breathingRespiring through lips
ventilation · air intake · humidification · filtration · warming · turbulent flow · laminar flow · resistance
Placing airway tube
- laryngoscopyVisual inspection of larynx
- tracheostomySurgically created airway opening
- direct laryngoscopyInstrument-guided airway examination
- cricothyrotomyEmergency surgical airway procedure
extubation · fiberoptic · anesthesiology · otolaryngology · ENT
Vocal fold vibration
- vocal cordsSound-producing throat membranes
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- speechOral communication ability
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
pitch · hoarseness · dysphonia · articulation · voice box · singing · projection · aphonia
sleep apnea
Disorder of interrupted breathing
- snoringNoisy breathing while asleep
- laryngitisInflamed voice box condition
- pharyngitisInflamed upper airway lining
tonsillitis · nasal polyps · deviated septum · rhinitis · sinusitis · subglottic stenosis · postnasal drip
pharynx
Muscular throat cavity
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- nasopharynxUpper pharyngeal region
- oropharynxMid-throat cavity
epiglottis · glottis · tonsils · adenoids · uvula · soft palate · turbinates · nasal cavity · vocal cords · hypopharynx
choking
Blocked airway condition
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- occlusionComplete closure or blockage
stridor · croup · epiglottitis · foreign body · angioedema · laryngospasm · anaphylaxis · swelling · secretions · aspiration
inhalation
Taking breath in
- exhalationBreathing out air
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- nasal breathingAirflow via nasal passages
mouth breathing · ventilation · air intake · humidification · filtration · warming · turbulent flow · laminar flow · resistance · patency
intubation
Placing airway tube
- laryngoscopyVisual inspection of larynx
- tracheostomySurgically created airway opening
- direct laryngoscopyInstrument-guided airway examination
cricothyrotomy · extubation · fiberoptic · anesthesiology · otolaryngology · ENT
phonation
Vocal fold vibration
- vocal cordsSound-producing throat membranes
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- speechOral communication ability
resonance · pitch · hoarseness · dysphonia · articulation · voice box · singing · projection · aphonia · voice therapy
- respiratory systemlungs, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, larynx