Mammalia. 145 



from the pharynx, over the soft palate, into the nasal passages 

 above the hard palate. Trace the pharynx downward and 

 backward to two passageways ; the farther one is the gullet, or 

 food tube, leading to the stomach ; the nearer opening is the 

 glottis, or opening to the windpipe, leading to the lungs. Be- 

 tween the glottis and the base of the tongue find the epiglottis, 

 a spoon-shaped cartilage, which most of the time stands up 

 close to the base of the tongue ; but when food passes it turns 

 down and back and covers the glottis, so that food does not 

 enter the air tube. Study these parts and their movements till 

 their action is clear to you. 



13. Split the soft palate and turn the parts aside to find on 

 the sides of the pharynx the small openings of the Eustachian 

 tubes, that lead outward on each side to the cavity of the middle 

 ear. 



