Siyapath
Sign up

Lesson: Chapter 6 — Human body processes

From the mouth to the stomach 2 of 4

Swallowing and the epiglottis

The pharynx is a shared chamber: both the oesophagus, which leads to the stomach, and the trachea, which leads to the lungs, open into it.

Figure to be added

Figure 6.3 — the epiglottis closing the entrance of the trachea as a bolus of food is swallowed into the oesophagus.

At the entrance of the trachea is a small movable lid, the epiglottis. When a bolus is swallowed, the epiglottis closes the trachea, so the food goes into the oesophagus instead.

Choking

People have died when food or water lodged in the pharynx instead of entering the oesophagus: the epiglottis stays shut over the trachea the whole time. If the food is not removed at once, the airway is blocked and the person can die.