Question

What is the common passage for food and air and how does it function?

Answer 1

Oropharynx:

1. Food and air pass through the oropharynx together.
2. This channel is used for food, drink, and air.
3. Even though air enters through the nasal cavity and food, and water enters through the oral cavity, the two passages unite at a point to form the structure – the oropharynx.
4. Later on, these two passages get separated.
5. That is to say that the water and food enter into the oesophagus and the air proceeds into the trachea.
6. The elastic cartilage of the epiglottis acts as a switch between the oesophagus and the larynx by allowing air to enter the airway to the throat and food into the gastrointestinal tract.
7. It works by keeping food particles away from entering the windpipe.