The nasal and oral cavities are parts of which airway region?

• A. Upper airway
• B. Lower airway
• C. Trachea
• D. Larynx

Answer: (A)

The nasal and oral cavities are part of the upper airway. The upper airway includes the entryways for air—the nose, nasal cavity, and mouth—plus the pathways that connect to the throat (pharynx) and larynx. Air is warmed, humidified, and filtered here before moving down into the lower airway, which begins after the larynx and includes the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. So these cavities sit in the upper portion of the airway, not the lower.