Function: Provide oxygen to body cells for energy metabolism and to eliminate carbon dioxide

- External gas exchange occurs between the outside atmosphere and the blood

- Internal gas exchange occurs between the blood and the tissues

- A.K.A. "Voice Box"

- Shaped by 9 cartilages, the most prominent of which is the anterior thyroid cartilage that forms the "Adam's apple"

- Contains the vocal cords

- A needle puncture of the chest to remove fluids or fusion of the pleura membranes

Epiglottis - leaf shaped cartilage that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the trachea

Vocal Cord - membranous folds on either side of the larynx that are important in speech production

Glottis - Opening between the vocal cords

Trachea (trache/o) - air passageway that extends from the larynx to the bronchi