And the pharynx is this connection between our esophagus and our larynx. Now, the larynx is essentially that section that connects to our passageway, the windpipe we call our trachea. And the larynx also contains our voice box that creates our voice. Now, in order to prevent food from actually entering our trachea, the opening of our larynx actually contains a cartilage flap we call our epiglottis. So the epiglottis is open when air passes in, but it closes when we swallow food into our esophagus, into our pharynx. So air enters the body via the nose in the nasal cavity, a layer of mucous membrane acts as a filter and traps pollutants and other harmful substances that are found within the air that can ultimately end up in our lungs.