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This image shows some of the details of the upper respiratory tract of a cat. Note the tongue-shaped piece of cartilage called the epiglottis just anterior to the opening of the trachea (glottis). The glottis leads to the larynx (voice box), which contains the vocal cords. During swallowing, the larynx moves upward against the epiglottis, which then prevents foods or liquids from entering the larynx or trachea. Other structures of the upper portion of the cat digestive system can also be seen in the image, including the esophagus (a collapsed, muscular tube that transports ingested material from the mouth to the stomach). |
