Upper Airway
These are the three main structures included in the upper airway.
What are the nose, nasal cavity, and pharynx?
This is another name for the nostrils or external openings of the nose.
What are the nares?
This structure forms the anterior two-thirds of the roof of the mouth.
What is the hard palate?
The pharynx is divided into these three regions.
What are the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx?
This structure is commonly known as the voice box.
What is the larynx?
This structure is generally considered the boundary between the upper and lower airway.
What is the larynx?
This structure separates the nasal cavity into left and right sides.
What is the nasal septum?
This structure forms the posterior one-third of the roof of the mouth.
What is the soft palate?
This region of the pharynx is located behind the nasal cavity.
What is the nasopharynx?
This is the only laryngeal cartilage that forms a complete ring around the airway.
What is the cricoid cartilage?
This zone includes the terminal bronchioles and alveoli and is where gas exchange occurs.
What is the respiratory zone?
These structures increase the surface area of the nasal cavity and create turbulent airflow.
What are the turbinates/conchae?
This structure is involved in taste, speech, moving food, and adding saliva to food
What is the tongue?
This is the medical term for swallowing.
What is deglutition?
These are the three unpaired laryngeal cartilages.
What are the epiglottis, thyroid, and cricoid cartilages?
Name four of the seven major functions of the upper airway.
What are temperature regulation, filtration, humidification, olfaction, phonation, conduction, and protection?
This region of the nasal cavity contains the vibrissae, which help trap larger particles.
What is the vestibular region?
These two structures are lymphatic tissue located on either side of the oropharynx.
What are the palatine tonsils?
During this phase of swallowing, breathing briefly stops.
What is the pharyngeal phase?
This opening lies between the true vocal folds.
What is the glottis/rima glottidis?
This is the part of the airway where gas exchange takes place.
What is the respiratory zone?
Name the three regions of the nasal cavity.
What are the vestibular region, olfactory region, and respiratory region?
This assessment classifies how much of the oral and pharyngeal structures can be seen and can help predict the ease of tube insertion.
What is the Mallampati classification?
This term describes the brief pause in breathing that occurs during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
What is deglutition apnea?
This inflammation of the epiglottis can cause potentially life-threatening airway obstruction.
What is epiglottitis?