upper airway anatomy

  • pharynx: part of throat behind mouth and nose and above trachea and esophagus
  • larynx: voice box. Houses epiglottis, vocal folds
  • glottis is the opening between the vocal folds and is what makes sounds:

  • epiglottis is the flap that covers trachea to prevent food from aspirating
  • Vallecula is space between the tongue and epiglottis (upside down view)

  • arytenoid can refer to either the muscle or the cartilage

  • Use the glottis as landmark
  • supraglottis is area above the glottis and subglottis below
  • supraglottis goes from epiglottis to glottis
  • subglottis goes from glottis to cricoid cartilage

  • importantly, it seems both subglottic and supraglottic airway obstruction are considered extrathoracic: