Question

Rick is drinking a soft drink and instead of swallowing, he accidentally sprays the soft drink from his nostrils. The drink has FAILED to pass through which portion of the pharynx?

Answer 1

During swallowing, the soft palate and other structures help prevent food from entering the wrong pathway. If food enters the trachea, coughing can help bring it back into the pharynx.

Step-by-step explanation:

During swallowing, the soft palate and uvula rise reflexively to close off the entrance to the nasopharynx. At the same time, the larynx is pulled superiorly and the cartilaginous epiglottis, its most superior structure, folds inferiorly, covering the glottis (the opening to the larynx); this process effectively blocks access to the trachea and bronchi. When the food "goes down the wrong way," it goes into the trachea. When food enters the trachea, the reaction is to cough, which usually forces the food up and out of the trachea, and back into the pharynx.