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The pharynx is a region that receives air from the nasal cavities and food from the mouth.The soft palate has a projection called the uvula, which projects into the pharynx and which people often confuse with the tonsils.Usually during swallowing, the soft palatemoves back to close off the nasopharynx, and the tracheamoves up under the epiglottis to cover the glottis.The tonsils,however, are embedded in the mucous membrane of thepharynix.From the mouth, foodstompasses through the pharynx and esophagus to thach, small intestine, and large intestine.(windpipe) is anterior to (in front of) the esophagus, a longmuscular tube that takes food to the stomach.5.3), is a reflex-achion performed automatically, without consciousthought.

The pharynx is a region that receives air from the nasal cavities and food from the mouth. The soft palate has a projection called the uvula, which projects into the pharynx and
which people often confuse with the tonsils. The tonsils,however, are embedded in the mucous membrane of thepharynix.

Table 5.1 traces the path of food. From the mouth, foodstompasses through the pharynx and esophagus to thach, small intestine, and large intestine. The food passageand air passage cross in the pharynx because the trachea. (windpipe) is anterior to (in front of) the esophagus, a longmuscular tube that takes food to the stomach. Swallowing,a process that occurs in the pharynx (Fig. 5.3), is a reflex-achion performed automatically, without consciousthought. Usually during swallowing, the soft palatemoves back to close off the nasopharynx, and the tracheamoves up under the epiglottis to cover the glottis. Theglottis is the opening to the larynx (voice box) and therefore, the air passage. During swallowing, food normallyenters the esophagus because the air passages are blocked.We do not breathe when we swallow.

Unfortunately, we have all had the unpleasant experience of having food "go the wrong way." The wrong waymay be either into the nasal cavities or into the trachea. If itis the latter, coughing will most likely force the food up outof the trachea and into the pharynx again. The up-and-downmovement of the Adam's apple, the front part of the larynx,is easy to observe when a person swallows.