Upper respiratory tract disorders

This group of disorders refers to diseases of the upper airways (upper respiratory tract). The upper airways anatomically are complicated structures which extend from the airway openings at the nares and lips to the trachea. The term upper airways includes several anatomically distinct regions. The nose constitutes the upper segment, followed by the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways, which extend from the nasal choanae and oral cavity to the supraglottic space. The paranasal sinuses drain into the nasal cavities and are attached to the lateral, posterior, and superior aspects of the nose. The larynx divides the upper and lower airways, although some place it in the thoracic inlet.