If you swallow a large bite of food without properly chewing it first, you will feel discomfort during ventilation. Explain this, considering the arrangement of the trachea and the esophagus.

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together, swallowing a large and poorly chewed food bolus may result in choking. This is a result of which of the following is it. Answer choice. A the food was directed into the esophagus. Answer choice. B the salivary enzyme is ineffective. Answer choice. C the epiglottis failed to cover the trachea or answer choice. D the epiglottis failed to cover the esophagus. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices accurately reflects the mechanism of choking in this context. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about what can cause this result of choking. And we know that choking occurs when the airway or the trachea is obstructed, preventing the normal flow of air into the lungs. And when it comes to the structure of the trachea, allowing for that normal flow of air into the lungs, we know that the trachea is covered by the epiglottis while swallowing to prevent choking. So, in the case of swallowing a large and poorly chewed food bolus resulting in choking. This would be the result of the epiglottis failing to cover the trachea while swallowing, to prove and choking and allow for that normal flow of air into the lungs. Which means that answer choice. C the epiglottis failed to cover the trachea is the correct answer. And all other answer choices are incorrect. As the reasoning for this result of choking is due to the epiglottis failing to cover the trachea and preventing that food bolus from becoming lodged and blocking the passage of air. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.