Inferior to the thyroid cartilage is the ring-shaped cricoid cartilage which holds the larynx open and supports its posterior end. The thyroid holds open the anterior end of the larynx and protects the vocal folds. Inferior to the epiglottis is the thyroid cartilage, which is often referred to as the Adam’s apple as it is most commonly enlarged and visible in adult males. The epiglottis is one of the cartilage pieces of the larynx and serves as the cover of the larynx during swallowing. Several cartilage structures make up the larynx and give it its structure. The larynx is located in the anterior portion of the neck, just inferior to the hyoid bone and superior to the trachea. The larynx, also known as the voice box, is a short section of the airway that connects the laryngopharynx and the trachea. During the process of swallowing, the epiglottis moves to cover the trachea to ensure that food enters the esophagus and to prevent choking. Because the pharynx is also used to swallow food, the epiglottis ensures that air passes into the trachea by covering the opening to the esophagus. The epiglottis is a flap of elastic cartilage that acts as a switch between the trachea and the esophagus.
The inhaled air then descends into the laryngopharynx, where it is diverted into the opening of the larynx by the epiglottis. Air inhaled through the oral cavity enters the pharynx at the oropharynx. Inhaled air from the nasal cavity passes into the nasopharynx and descends through the oropharynx, located in the posterior of the oral cavity. The nasopharynx is the superior region of the pharynx found in the posterior of the nasal cavity. The pharynx is divided into 3 regions: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The pharynx, also known as the throat, is a muscular funnel that extends from the posterior end of the nasal cavity to the superior end of the esophagus and larynx. The one advantage of breathing through the mouth is that its shorter distance and larger diameter allows more air to quickly enter the body. The mouth also lacks the hairs and sticky mucus that filter air passing through the nasal cavity. Because the pathway of air entering the body from the mouth is shorter than the pathway for air entering from the nose, the mouth does not warm and moisturize the air entering the lungs as well as the nose performs this function. Most normal breathing takes place through the nasal cavity, but the oral cavity can be used to supplement or replace the nasal cavity’s functions when needed. The mouth, also known as the oral cavity, is the secondary external opening for the respiratory tract.
Air exiting the body through the nose returns moisture and heat to the nasal cavity before being exhaled into the environment. Hairs and mucus lining the nasal cavity help to trap dust, mold, pollen and other environmental contaminants before they can reach the inner portions of the body. The function of the nasal cavity is to warm, moisturize, and filter air entering the body before it reaches the lungs. The nasal cavity is a hollow space within the nose and skull that is lined with hairs and mucus membrane.
Blank ipicture of basic anatomy of breathing skin#
The nose is a structure of the face made of cartilage, bone, muscle, and skin that supports and protects the anterior portion of the nasal cavity. The nose and nasal cavity form the main external opening for the respiratory system and are the first section of the body’s airway-the respiratory tract through which air moves. Anatomy of the Respiratory System Nose and Nasal Cavity Finally, the muscles of respiration, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, work together to act as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing. Act as the functional units of the respiratory system by passing oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body.