1. Structures of upper airway
1.1. Nose
1.1.1. Internal nares-Air enters the upper airway through nose and mouth, & it is here that the air is filtered, warmed, & humidified
1.2. Mouth
1.2.1. Hard palate- Forms the floor of nasal cavity; separates nasal & oral cavity
1.2.2. Soft palate- Extends posterior to hard palate; Divides superior nasopharynx from lower pharynx
1.3. Pharynx
1.3.1. nasopharynx superior portion of the pharynx; contains the pharyngeal tonsils & openings to the left & right auditory tubes
1.3.2. orpharynx- middle portion of pharynx; Communicates with oral cavity
1.3.3. laryngopharynx- inferior portion of pharynx; extends from the hyoid bone to entrance of larynx & esophagus
1.4. Larynx-
1.4.1. a cartilaginous structure that surrounds the glottis, which is a narrow opening. The upper airway ends at the larynx, which is protected by the epiglottis.
1.5. Epiglottis
1.5.1. - leaf shaped valve folds over the the larynx during swallowing and diverts food and fluids into the esophagus