Which structure serves as the voice box and air travels through after the pharynx?

Which structure serves as the voice box and air travels through after the pharynx?

• A. Larynx
• B. Esophagus
• C. Trachea
• D. Bronchi

Answer: (A)

The voice box and the first part of the airway after the pharynx is the larynx. It sits just below the pharynx and houses the vocal cords, so as air passes through, they vibrate to produce sound. The larynx also protects the airway during swallowing with the epiglottis. After the larynx, air continues into the trachea, then to the bronchi and lungs. The esophagus, by contrast, carries swallowed food to the stomach, not air.

The voice box and the first part of the airway after the pharynx is the larynx. It sits just below the pharynx and houses the vocal cords, so as air passes through, they vibrate to produce sound. The larynx also protects the airway during swallowing with the epiglottis. After the larynx, air continues into the trachea, then to the bronchi and lungs. The esophagus, by contrast, carries swallowed food to the stomach, not air.