Throat anatomy: swallow vs breathe

Tap any labeled part to learn what it does. Switch the mode to see how the epiglottis closes the windpipe when you swallow — or take the quiz.

Mode
Nasopharynx Nasal cavity Tongue Oropharynx Hypopharynx Larynx Windpipe(trachea) Foodpipe(esophagus) Epiglottis
Diagram adapted from Cancer Research UK, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tap any labeled part

Throat anatomy

Each labeled part has a job. The trachea (windpipe) carries air, the esophagus (food pipe) carries food, and the epiglottis decides which one gets through at any moment.

Base illustration is a simplified mid-sagittal section of the head and neck. The epiglottis is drawn here as an overlay so it can flip between resting (breathing) and closed (swallowing) positions — the rest of the diagram does not change between modes.
Sources