What happens to inhaled air as it passes through the nasal cavity?
Graphics reprinted with permission by the copyright owner, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. Cross section of upper airway Pharynx: The pharynx is the common passageway for air and food at the caudal end of the oral cavity, the eustachian tubes (which extend from the middle ears on each side of the head) open into the pharynx. It is located anterior to the larynx. The pharynx is not shown on this diagram a) Larynx: The larynx is a firm box like structure a.k.a. “voice box”composed of seven cartilage with their associated muscles. One of the cartilages, the epiglottis, functions to control the inspiration and expiration of air into the trachea and prevents the inhalation of foreign bodies (liquid and solid) into the trachea. Other cartilage and muscles assist in the production of sound. b) Esophagus: “food tube” covered with the digestive system c) Diaphragm: The structure composed of connective tissue and muscle that separated the thoracic (chest) cavity from the abdomen. The diaphragm assist
