Question

Outline why food does not go down ‘the wrong way’ (into the windpipe) when we eat.

Answer 1

When we eat food is goes through the mouth , pharynx and then into the oesophagus

Air from nose pases through the pharynx and then to lungs

Here the pharynx is the common pathway for both air and food

The flap tissue called epiglottis which is made up of elastic cartilage prevent entry of food and liquid into the trachea

When we swallow, epiglottis closed and block the entry of food particles into larynx and lungs, and allow food to move into oesophagus this movement is assisted by muscles of larynx

Thyroepiglottic and aryepiglottic are the muscle that assist the movement