Which of the following structures normally serves as a passageway for air only (i.e., no food)?

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Question restatement: Which of the following structures normally serves as a passageway for air only (i.e., no food)?
Options: Esophagus, Laryngopharynx, Oropharynx, Nasopharynx, Oral cavity

Option 1 – Esophagus: This is the muscular tube that transports swallowed food from the pharynx to the stomach via peristaltic contractions. It is primarily a digestive channel, not an airway, so it does not fit the criterion of an air-only passageway.

Option 2 – Laryngopharynx: This region of the pharynx serves as a conduit for both air and swallowed material, directing content toward the esophagus and air toward the larynx. Because it handles both substances, it cannot be labeled an air-only passage.

Option 3 – Oropharynx: Located behind the oral cavity, the oropharynx participates in the passage of air from the nasopharynx to the laryngopharynx during breathing and also accepts food and drink during swallowing. Its dual role excludes it from being an air-only route.

Option 4 – Nasopharynx: This upper portion of the pharynx lies behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate. It functions primarily as an airway, conducting air from the nasal cavity toward the lower respiratory tract and is not involved in swallowing food, making it the air-only passage among these options.

Option 5 – Oral cavity: This space is the entry for food and is not a conduit for air in normal swallowing and respiration. While it may be involved in speech and respiration to some extent, its main role is as part of the digestive path for ingested materials rather than an exclusive air passage.

Summary: Among the given structures, the nasopharynx is the one that normally serves as a passageway for air only, since other nearby regions participate in swallowing or handle both air and food in their functions.

ANATOMY 2300 SP2025 (2146) Unit 5 Exam- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Which of the following structures normally serves as a passageway for air only (i.e., no food)?

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