Airway Anatomy - 3D Tutorial

This video is a 3D tutorial on how we breathe/Airway Anatomy.
Basic Airway Anatomy
Upper Airway
The upper airway is the "A" of the ABCs. As the entry point for oxygen any damage to, or blockage of, the structures in the upper airway can rapidly result in unconsciousness or death. The anatomy of the upper airway can be broken down into the nose, mouth, and throat. The medical terms for these are the nasopharynx and oropharynx/larynx.
NOSE (Nasopharynx): The nose is the primary airway most conscious adults use to breathe. The space behind the nostrils (the nasopharynx) is filled with blood-rich tissue covered in mucus, which warms and cleans incoming air.
MOUTH: The mouth is used as an alternate airway in normal adults and is especially important in emergency situations, when the nasal pathway may be blocked due to illness or trauma. The mouth is also the entrance to the digestive system and is involved in the production of speech.
THROAT (Oropharynx/Larynx): The oropharynx is the area behind the tongue at the very back of the mouth, it connects to the nasopharynx superiorly and the larynx inferiorly. The larynx and oropharynx are separated by the epiglottis.
The Larynx is where sound is produced. Vibrations of cartilage and tissue caused by fast-moving air lead to sound, which is formed into speech by the tongue and mouth.
The Epiglottis is the mechanism that covers the opening of the trachea when food is swallowed. It acts as a "trap door" which closes when swallowing to prevent food from entering the lower airway.
Lower Airway
The lower airway is made up of all structures below the larynx (voice box). As in the upper airway, there are structures that transfer air; the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, and structures that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged with the blood, the alveoli.
TRACHEA: The trachea is a hollow tube that passes air to the lower airways, it differs from the airway structures above it in that it is supported by cartilage rings. The trachea sits anterior to the esophagus.
BRONCHI: The bronchi are hollow tubes that branch off of the trachea at the carina into the right and left bronchi, these are known as the main stem bronchi. They then further subdivide into smaller bronchi for each lobe of the right and left lung. These structures are supported by cartilage rings.
The right mainstem bronchus points downward at a sharper angle than the left. This is why foreign bodies or aspirated material are more likely to get stuck in, or pass through, the right mainstem bronchus.
BRONCHIOLES: The bronchioles are smaller than even the bronchi and lie between the bronchi and the alveoli, they differ from the bronchi in that they do not have cartilage rings, and stay open via smooth muscle.
ALVEOLI: the alveoli are the millions of thin-walled sacs inside the lungs which are surrounded by capillaries. The thin walls and a significant amount of blood flow allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to be easily exchanged. The alveoli are the end of the airway.