A collective term for the passages through which air enters and leaves the lungs (see respiratory system). The term is also applied to a tube inserted into the mouth of an unconscious person to prevent the tongue from obstructing breathing.
n. 1. any of the passages of the respiratory system. 2. any device that enables the flow of air into and out of the lungs. See nasopharyngeal airway; oropharyngeal airway.
Narrowing or blockage of the respiratory passages. The obstruction may be due to a foreign body, such as a piece of food, that becomes lodged in part of the upper airway and may result in choking. Certain disorders, such as diphtheria and lung cancer, can cause obstruction. Additionally, spasm of the muscular walls of the airway, as occurs in bronchospasm (a feature of asthma), results in breathing difficulty.... airway obstruction
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