Upper Airway, a Guide to the Different Sections

The respiratory system is divided into two different sections the upper airway and the lower airway. The upper airway consists of many different parts and plays a key role in several bodily functions such as breathing, speaking and swallowing. The upper airway is divided into nose, paranasal sinuses, conchae, pharynx and larynx.

The nose consists of cartilage and nasal bones that support the external nose. The internal nose is separated by the nasal septum dividing it into two sections. The vascular and ciliated lining of the nasal cavities warm and humidify the air that a person breathes in. Mucus secreted from the mucosa traps small particles in the air such as pollen and dust. The cilia are the tiny hairs inside the nose.

The paranasal sinuses are nasal cavity extensions located in the surrounding nasal bones. The paranasal sinuses give resonance to the voice. There are two frontal sinuses that extend above the orbital cavities. The ethmoid bone is located between your eyes and essentially contains a network of small spaces known as ethmoid sinuses. The sphenoid sinuses lie behind the nasal cavity and the maxillary sinuses are found on either side of the nose. The maxillary sinuses are the largest of all the sinuses and the ones that are most easily accessed for treatment.

The turbinates or conchae are bones that change the flow of the air that is inhaled. As the air is taken in the turbinates deflect it towards the large, warm and moist mucous membranes in order for the mucous to filter any particles from the inhaled air. The turbinates also contains nerves to detect smells or induce sneezing to remove irritating particles.

The throat or pharynx carries air from the nose to the larynx and also anything eaten from the mouth to the esophagus. The pharynx however is divided into sections the nasopharynx which is closest to the nose, the oropharynx which is nearest to the mouth and the laryngeal pharynx which is nearest to the larynx. The nasolarynx contains the opening to the eustachian tubes and the adenoids. Eustachian tubes basically connect the middle ear to the pharynx and are how respiratory infections can effect the middle ear and cause inner ear problems. The oropharynx contains the tongue although most people consider it apart of the mouth. Tonsils and adenoids basically have a role in protecting us from infection are also found in the pharynx.

The voice box is the larynx and is a cartilaginous section between the pharynx and the trachea. The larynx primary function is to produce sound, however the larynx also protects the lower airway from foreign objects because it is responsible for coughing. The epiglottis is a cartilaginous valve flap that covers the opening between the larynx during the swallowing process. The glottis is an opening between the vocal cords. Vocal cords vibrate and produce sound however the palate, tongue, lips, teeth and pharynx help the vocal cords in turning sound to speech.

All parts of the upper respiratory are important however each section can develop medical conditions that can interfere in the swallowing or respiratory process including sinus infections, deviated septum, adenoid, tonsil and turbinate hypertrophy.

If you feel as though you may have any medical problems with any part of your upper airway you should see a otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

References:

www.ehs.net/2235/pdf/respant.pdf
www.medicinenet.com/upper_respiratory_infection/article.htm
www.apneos.com/osa.html