Wrinkles

What moves up and down when swallowing?

During breathing, air travels from your mouth and pharynx into the larynx (toward your lungs). 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.

What part of the throat moves up and down?

Larynx Larynx — Your vocal cords are found in this tube made of muscles and cartilage. It's the area in front of your neck that moves up and down when you swallow – the Adam's apple in men. The larynx carries air from your nose and throat toward the trachea.

Does the epiglottis move up or down?

Function. The epiglottis is normally pointed upward during breathing with its underside functioning as part of the pharynx.

What is pulled up and forward during swallowing?

The hyoid bone and larynx are pulled upward and forward by contraction of the suprahyoid muscles and thyrohyoid muscle. This displacement tucks the larynx under the base of the tongue. The epiglottis tilts backward to seal the laryngeal vestibule.

What muscle moves food down the throat?

Peristalsis squeezes your esophageal muscles from top to bottom. This pushes food and liquid along. If you could see peristalsis, it would look like a wave passing down your esophagus. To keep food and liquids moving in the right direction, your digestive tract has special muscles along its course called sphincters.

What sticks up in the back of the throat?

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that sits beneath the tongue at the back of the throat. Its main function is to close over the windpipe (trachea) while you're eating to prevent food entering your airway.

What is the anatomy of the throat?

The throat (pharynx and larynx) is a ring-like muscular tube that acts as the passageway for air, food and liquid. It is located behind the nose and mouth and connects the mouth (oral cavity) and nose to the breathing passages (trachea [windpipe] and lungs) and the esophagus (eating tube).

What’s the flap in the back of your throat?

The epiglottis is a small, movable "lid" just above the larynx that prevents food and drink from entering your windpipe. But if the epiglottis becomes swollen — either from infection or from injury — the airway narrows and may become completely blocked.