The ears, nose, and throat have separate
but related functions. The throat is a
passageway that carries food to the
esophagus and air to the lungs. At the
entrance to the windpipe the voice box
contains vocal cords that open and close
to produce the sound of the voice. This
is covered by a stiff flap of tissue
called the epiglottis which prevents
food from entering the lungs. The ears
are important for both hearing and
balance. The outer ear directs sound waves
to the eardrum which vibrates against
tiny bones in the middle ear.
This stimulates nerve cells in the inner
ear to generate nerve impulses that
travel to the brain where they are
perceived as sound. Components of the
inner ear called the vestibular system
gather information about the position
and movement of the head to maintain
balance. The nose is the main passageway
for air into and out of the lungs. The
nose warms, moistens, and cleans air and
is also the organ of smell which is an
important component of taste.
Finally, the sinuses are air-filled spaces
that open into the nasal cavity which
reduce the weight of the facial bones
and skull while also maintaining shape.
