Why is it easier for food to get drawn into the trachea instead of the esophagus?

Answer 1

Because there is a flap in your throat that covers the appropriate passage at the appropriate time.

Ex: When you are eating, the flap usually covers the trachea.

However, if you are laughing while eating, the flap can get very confused and may cover the esophagus instead of the trachea, allowing food to go down it.

I hope this helped~

Answer 2

Hopefully, you don't have food in your trachea, because if you did, you'd be choking. When you eat, the food should go from your mouth, through your pharynx (the back of your throat), then down into the esophagus. The opening to the trachea (which is the passageway for air or the "wind pipe") is called the glottis, and the glottis is located just above the larynx (which contains the voice box). (The larynx is also called the Adam's apple). When you swallow, food does NOT enter through the glottis to go down your trachea because the glottis is covered by the epiglottis.

Answer 3

When swallowing food, the epiglottis covers the opening into the trachea - preventing food from entering. The dorsal cricoarytenoid muscles also contract so that the opening is narrower than when breathing (also helping to prevent food entering the trachea).

Answer 4

Food is prevented from doing so because the uvula with the soft palate closes the opening to the trachea.

Answer 5

by the epiglottis

Answer 6

You burp, then hurriedly say "excuse me".