Question

Which of the following pathways is common to both food and air?

• A. Nasopharynx
• B. Laryngopharynx
• C. Oropharynx
• D. Both B and C

Answer 1

The pharynx makes up the part of the throat following the nasal cavity, and is comprised of three parts - the nasopharynx, followed by the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx. The inhaled air enters the nasal cavity, followed by the nasopharynx and the oropharynx. The oral cavity too, opens into the oropharynx. As the bolus (the ball of chewed food) enters the oropharynx, the soft palate lifts up to close off the nasopharynx from the oropharynx. The oropharynx is followed by the laryngopharynx, which continues into the rest of the respiratory pathway anteriorly and the oesophagus posteriorly. During swallowing, the epiglottis functions to seal the opening the larynx to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract. Thus, food and air pass through both oropharynx and laryngopharynx, before entering the oesophagus and trachea respectively.