nose & throat library

The nose serves dual functions as the organ for the sense of smell and as an entry to the respiratory tract. The throat is a passageway connecting the back of the mouth and nose to the esophagus and to the windpipe. Discover conditions associated with the nose and throat.

Featured Article: How Your Tongue Works

Despite what people say, the tongue isn't your body's strongest muscle. But you do depend on it for eating, tasting and speaking. See more »

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How Your Tongue Works

Despite what people say, the tongue isn't your body's strongest muscle. But you do depend on it for eating, tasting and speaking.

Smelling

When scent molecules move past smell receptors in the nose, those receptors send a signal to the brain. Scents have been known to trigger memories and emotional responses.

Choking

Choking is the obstruction of the trachea by food or other foreign objects. This animation illustrates how an obstruction happens and how to help a choking victim.

Malignant Tumor on Vocal Chord

Malignant tumors on the vocal chord are typically caused by tobacco use. This animation shows how a malignant tumor develops on a vocal chord.

Peristalsis

After you swallow your food, your esophagus carries the food down to your stomach to be digested. This animation explains the process of peristalsis, the wave-like contractions that move food along the digestive tract.

Tasting

The tongue has approximately 10,000 taste buds. When these taste buds detect food particles they send signals to the brain indicating the properties of the food particles -- telling the brain what they "taste" like.