Throat anatomy, Cutaway illustration of the human head and neck, showing internal structures in the mouth and throat. These include the tongue, the hard palate, a bolus of food being swallowed (seen in the mouth at left), the larynx, and the upper parts of the trachea and oesophagus. The epiglottis is a flap that covers the upper part of the trachea (the airway to the lungs) as a bolus of food (right) enters the oesophagus, passing through the upper oesophageal sphincter. For this illustration without labels, see image C048/2726.