What is responsible for closing off the airway during swallowing?

What is responsible for closing off the airway during swallowing?

When you swallow, a flap called the epiglottis moves to block the entrance of food particles into your larynx and lungs. The muscles of the larynx pull upward to assist with this movement. They also tightly close during swallowing.

Which respiratory system structure closes off the trachea when a person swallows?

The epiglottis is usually upright at rest allowing air to pass into the larynx and lungs. When a person swallows the epiglottis folds backward to cover the entrance of the larynx so food and liquid do not enter the windpipe and lungs. After swallowing the epiglottis returns to its original upright position.

What happens to respiration during swallowing?

4.3. Breathing ceases briefly during swallowing. The pause in breathing is due to inhibition of respiration at neural control centers in the brainstem, and not simply due to closure of the upper airway [49, 69, 70].

Which regions of the respiratory tract are closed off during swallowing?

Normally, to prevent this during swallowing, the larynx, a box-like structure at the upper end of the trachea, is elevated (moved towards the head) by the muscles attached to it and the epiglottis folds backward, forming a very effective seal, like the ‘trapdoor’ over the entrance to the larynx.

What would happen if the epiglottis fails to close correctly over the trachea when a person swallows?

This can lead to airway obstruction, inflammation of lung tissue, and aspiration pneumonia; and in the long term, atelectasis and bronchiectasis. One reason aspiration can occur is because of failure of the epiglottis to close completely.

What protects the trachea from food or liquids entering?

epiglottis – large , leaf-shaped piece of cartilage lying on top of larynx; during swallowing the larynx elevates, causing the epiglottis to fall on the glottis (opening into larynx) like a lid, closing it off – this prevents food from entering the windpipe (trachea).

How do the lungs get rid of particles that accidentally enters the air passage?

Tiny hairs called cilia, covering the walls of the air tubes, move the mucus upward and out into the throat, where it is either coughed up and spat out, or swallowed. The air reaches the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the inner part of the lungs with any dust particles that avoided the defenses in the nose and airways.

Do muscles squeeze the air out of the lungs?

To breathe in (inhale), you use the muscles of your rib cage – especially the major muscle, the diaphragm. Your diaphragm tightens and flattens, allowing you to suck air into your lungs. To breathe out (exhale), your diaphragm and rib cage muscles relax. This naturally lets the air out of your lungs.