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How Does Larynx Keep Food From Going Down The Trachea?

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Posted on Wed, 17 Dec 2014
Question: I just got out of the hospital with aspirational pneumonia. It was caused a few days after I had two neck fusions. The swelling from surgery and agitation from a five hour breathing tube resulted in my having trouble swallowing. My question is, how does the larynx keep food from going down the trachea? I'm on a very soft diet right now but am still very concerned about a recurrence.
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Answered by Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Epiglottis and the vocal cords are the key here...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query

There are two places int he throat where the food gets diverted:
1. Epiglottis - this acts like a flap to cover the larynx while swallowing the food.
2. Vocal cords - these sensitive structures act as a secondary barrier for the larynx.

Hence, the vocal cords being very delicate and sensitive structure ensures that the foreign bodies do not get into the trachea. Cough is the reflex, produced to throw out the misguided food material or the throat secretions. The reflex gets hampered when there is trauma to the epiglottis or the vocal cords while performing intubation. It would be beneficial to take soft feeds till the trauma over the vocal cords or the epiglottis settles down.

Hope I have answered your query: I will be available for the follow-up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty

Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 2540 Questions

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How Does Larynx Keep Food From Going Down The Trachea?

Brief Answer: Epiglottis and the vocal cords are the key here... Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for posting the query There are two places int he throat where the food gets diverted: 1. Epiglottis - this acts like a flap to cover the larynx while swallowing the food. 2. Vocal cords - these sensitive structures act as a secondary barrier for the larynx. Hence, the vocal cords being very delicate and sensitive structure ensures that the foreign bodies do not get into the trachea. Cough is the reflex, produced to throw out the misguided food material or the throat secretions. The reflex gets hampered when there is trauma to the epiglottis or the vocal cords while performing intubation. It would be beneficial to take soft feeds till the trauma over the vocal cords or the epiglottis settles down. Hope I have answered your query: I will be available for the follow-up queries. Regards Dr. Naveen Kumar N. ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon