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The Role of the Pharynx and Larynx

~ joannerambling ~ 1 Comment

This week we are looking at the roles of the pharynx and larynx. They are important parts of the throat that help with breathing, swallowing and speaking. Although they are close together, they have different roles. The pharynx acts like a shared passageway for air, food and liquid, while the larynx helps move air into the lungs and produces sound.

The pharynx, commonly called the throat, is a muscular tube located behind the nose and mouth. Its main role is to direct air from the nose or mouth toward the larynx and lungs, while also guiding food and liquids toward the oesophagus and stomach. Because both the respiratory and digestive systems pass through this area, the pharynx is essential for breathing and swallowing.

The larynx, also known as the voice box, sits below the pharynx and above the trachea. It allows air to pass into the windpipe and lungs and contains the vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sound. The larynx also helps protect the airway during swallowing, as structures such as the epiglottis help prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea.

Together, the pharynx and larynx help separate the pathways for air and food. The pharynx directs air and food to the correct places, while the larynx keeps the airway open for breathing and supports speech. This coordination is especially important when swallowing, because it helps reduce the risk of choking or inhaling food into the lungs.


The Adam’s apple is the visible bump at the front of the neck that is formed by part of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx. It helps protect the vocal cords inside the voice box and provides support for structures involved in speaking and swallowing. The Adam’s apple often becomes more noticeable during puberty because the larynx grows, which can also contribute to a deeper voice. Although it is usually more prominent in males, everyone has this cartilage to some degree.

Week 32 of 2026

~ joannerambling ~ 7 Comments

Had a decent enough sleep but I’m not good this morning, tremor wise. I suspect this is due to me feeling like I have a cold or flu. I have sat and closed my eyes twice this morning.

Around 11am I went to put my feet up and couldn’t get the footrest to rise causing me to get frustrated. I used the Everfit and then decided to go and have a lay down.

After a 45-minute rest I started to feel better and even though the footrest still wouldn’t go up I was able to deal with it better.

It was around 3pm when I was able to get it to raise. I need a new remote.

Steps: 5067 – 3k’s 

Had a decent enough sleep but I was still up at 4.15am, it was only 4c or 39f when I got up. No milkshake this morning as I only have a small amount of milk left.

Sue and I had doctor appointments, the doctor said my iron levels are a bit low and my fasting BGL is a but high, then we went to Woolies before coming home.

This afternoon I started feeling awful I have a head cold and ache all over.

Steps: 6,585 = 4k’s

Had a good night woke a couple of times but managed to go back to sleep and woke with the alarm at 5am. I am feeling awful I am blowing my nose constantly.

Dawson and his girlfriend turned up for a short visit just to say hi and see how I am.

It is a warmish day, one of those days when it is warmer outside then inside.

I tried to lay down for a nap but wasn’t able breath so just sat in my armchair shut the curtain and muted the TV while I closed my eyes for 30-minutes.  After which I felt more with it.

Steps: 6,688 = 4.1k’s

I slept till 4am when I woke up and felt good so got up, it was 5c when I got up. I still don’t feel good with the damn head cold.

By 11am it was 13c and I was still feeling rotten. Managed a 30-minute nap which helped.

I still managed to do the housework and swept out the front.

Blain and a mate came to see me they were here about 20-minutes.

Steps: 6,593 = 4.1k’s 

I slept till 4am when I woke up and felt good so got up, it was 5c when I got up. I still don’t feel good with the damn head cold.

Went shopping with Sue and was exhausted by the time I got home, my feet felt heavy and I needed to rest and put my feet up for a while.

After lunch I was able to empty the recycle boxes into the outside bin and did some other things around the house before needing to put my feet up again.

Tim rang to let me know he will be late home again as after his run was over, he had to pick up a different bus and take it to West Gosford, then get another bus bring it back, I think that’s what he said.

Steps: 7,761 = 4.8k’s

Slept well, I was up at 4.30pm it is only 4c or 39f, I have an appointment to have my eyes checked which I do once a year due to being diabetic.

It feels really cold this morning, but it feels colder inside then it does outside.

Before going to see the optometrist, we went and posted off Sue’s, and my birthday presents to Kirsty who is one of Sue’s daughters her birthday is the 20th. She is the only one who has anything to do with her mum.

I am feeling extremely tired this afternoon and cold still.

Steps: 13,059 = 8k’s or 5 miles

I slept well, I woke at 4.40am and decided to get up the temp at that time was 4c according to my phone.

By 5.30 it was 5c or 41f and I had a wash and dressed, I had cleaned the kitchen and tossed a load of clothes into wash and made my breakie.

I am feeling more like myself but still not 100%. I have decided not to go for a walk till it’s not as cold each morning.

Tim off this weekend, he walked round to Mitre 10 to get a few bolts and screws on the way he noticed an abandoned chair that he said he will go back after dark and if it is still there, he will bring it home as it looks like a nice chair.  

Steps: 4,997 = 3k’s or 1.8miles

The History of Glue

~ joannerambling ~ 11 Comments

Glue may seem like an ordinary household item, but its history stretches back thousands of years. Long before modern bottles of white glue, super glue, or tape, people discovered that sticky natural substances could help them build tools, repair objects, make art, and construct furniture. The story of glue is really the story of human ingenuity: finding ways to make things hold together.

Some of the earliest adhesives were made from materials found in nature, such as tree resin, plant gums, tar, and animal products. It is believed that prehistoric people used sticky substances like birch tar to attach stone points to wooden handles, helping them make stronger spears, axes, and other tools. It is known that Egyptians used animal-based glues in woodworking, furniture making, papyrus production, and decorative objects, while Greeks and Romans used adhesives in mosaics, construction, and everyday repairs.

For many centuries, the most common glues were made by boiling animal hides, bones, or connective tissue to extract collagen. These “hide glues” were widely used by cabinetmakers, instrument makers, bookbinders, and artists. Although they were not waterproof and had to be heated before use, they were strong, reliable, and could be softened again with heat and moisture, making repairs possible.

It was during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, glue changed dramatically.  It  was in the 1800s that natural rubber adhesives appeared, and with the growth of chemistry came new products such as casein glue, nitrocellulose glue, epoxy, polyurethane, and synthetic rubber adhesives.

Of course, wars and industrial manufacturing speed  things up as stronger, faster, and more specialised adhesives were needed for vehicles, aircraft, packaging, and construction.

Today, adhesives are everywhere: in schools, homes, hospitals, electronics, cars, packaging, and even spacecraft. Modern glues can be waterproof, heat-resistant, flexible, instant-drying, or specially designed for medical use.

So from way back when to now and beyond there will many different types of ways to stick on thing to another.

The Role of the Mouth and Nose When Breathing

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

This week we are looking at the role of the mouth and news when breathing.

The nose and mouth are the two main entry points for air when we breathe. Although both can bring air into the respiratory system, they have different roles. The nose is usually the preferred pathway because it filters, warms and moistens the air before it travels down the throat, through the windpipe and into the lungs. Tiny hairs and mucus inside the nose help trap dust, germs and other particles, making the air safer and more comfortable for the lungs.

The mouth acts as a second pathway for breathing. It is especially useful when the nose is blocked, such as during a cold or allergies, or when the body needs more air during exercise. However, air that enters through the mouth is not filtered, warmed or moistened as well as air that enters through the nose. This means frequent mouth breathing can sometimes lead to a dry mouth, throat irritation or poorer sleep.

Overall, the nose and mouth work together to help the body take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The nose protects and prepares the air for the lungs, while the mouth provides an extra route for airflow when needed.

When we have a cold, the inside of the nose can become swollen and filled with extra mucus. This makes it harder for air to pass through the nose, so breathing can feel blocked or stuffy.

Because the nose is blocked, we often start breathing more through the mouth. Mouth breathing lets air still get into the lungs, but it does not filter, warm, or moisten the air as well as the nose does. That is why a cold can sometimes make your mouth or throat feel dry.

A cold can also make us sneeze, cough, or have a runny nose because the body is trying to clear away germs and mucus.

Basic Shark Body Facts

~ joannerambling ~ 11 Comments

Sharks are fish that live mostly in the ocean. They have strong, streamlined bodies that help them move quickly through the water. Unlike many fish, a shark’s skeleton is made of cartilage, which is lighter and more flexible than bone.

·       Sharks have rough skin covered in tiny tooth-like scales called dermal denticles.

·       Most sharks have several fins, including dorsal fins on the back, pectoral fins on the sides, and a tail fin for pushing forward.

·       Sharks breathe through gills, which take oxygen from the water.

·       Their teeth are often sharp and are replaced many times during their lives.

·       Many sharks have a strong sense of smell and can detect movement in the water.

·       A shark’s tongue is called a basihyal. It is made of cartilage and usually cannot move very much. Some shakes use it to rip the flesh off their prey.

These body features help sharks find food, stay balanced, swim efficiently, and survive as ocean predators.

Week 31 of 2026

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I slept well waking once to pee and then straight back to sleep till 4.10am, when I got up to pee again and couldn’t settle so I got up. It is a cold morning the temp at 5am was 4c or 39f.

I am having a bad day Parkinson’s wise I am shaking a lot but my mind is mostly clear and working.

By 3.30pm I started to feel good, the tremor had stopped I could do stuff

Steps: 5058 = 3.1k’s or 1.9miles

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I slept well till around 4am when I woke to be and couldn’t settle again so naturally, I got up, it is now 5.20am and the temp is 5c or 41f.

I went for a nice long walk

Sue picked me up at 10.50am and took me to have the ultrasound done of my right knee.

Tasha came down at 4.30pm and helped me change into my Pj’s, I will be in bed by 7pm.

Steps:8,083=5k’s or 3miles

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I slept well till around 4am when I woke to be and couldn’t settle again so naturally, I got up, it is now 5.20am and the temp is 5c or 41f.

It is now 5.10am and the temp is 5c but should warm up later in the day.

No walk today as I have the groceries coming.

Had a not so great morning but a pretty good afternoon.

Steps: 4,193 =2.6k’s or 1.6 miles

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Had a good night, woke when the alarm went off it is 5c again. I went for my walk, and it felt good as the morning has gone on it has warmed up and I got colder how silly is that.

After a nap at 11am for 30 minutes I started to feel better. My feet started to feel hot so I tried to take my socks off but couldn’t get my right sock off I was sitting on my armchair and started to cry in frustration and the physio who was with Bear (our neighbour)came and asked me if I was ok when I said I was upset as I couldn’t get my sock off, so she came took it off for me.

Steps: 6,576 = 4k’s or 2.6 miles

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Had a good night, woke when the alarm  

Didn’t go for a walk was busy hanging the washing up to dry. Also, it was too bloody cold. It was 5c or 41f at 5am by 10am it was 13c or 55f.

I went for a nap at 11am and slept till 12.20pm, that’s unusual for me.

I thought having such a long nap I would be right for the rest of the day, I was wrong by 4pm I was starting to feel like shit again. At 5pm Tasha came down and helped me get changed for bed.

By 6.30pm I started to feel better and more with it.

Steps: 6,576 = 4k’s or 2.5 miles

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Had another good night, although I was up at 4.10am as I felt awake it is cold again the temp was 5c or 41f at 5am.

I walked down and posted some letters off, then home to sweep and vacuum before Sue picked me up. We had appointments with the podiatrist.

When Sue arrived, I was in a right state, that state being you forgot to eat breakfast you silly woman. I ate a tub to yoghurt in the car.

After the podiatrist we called in to the plaza so I could pick up my scripts.

This afternoon I sorted my meds out for the next month, not a quick task but now I am set for the month.

Tomorrow I will do Tim’s meds, he doesn’t have them done for a month like I do instead he has three weeks done in weekly lots.

Steps: 6,451 = 4k’s  

Had another good night, although I was up at 4.10am as I felt awake it is cold again the temp was 5c or 41f at 5am.

Tim not working this weekend, he also did a load of washing that I hung up to dry this morning.

No walk this morning as it is raining.

Tim went to Bunnings and was gone 2hrs he spent the rest of the day outside doing stuff.

Steps: 4,318 = 2.6k’s

Multitasking

~ joannerambling ~ 9 Comments

Today I am writing about multitasking, something I do often but of course it has pros and cons, so I asked Google what these pros and cons are here is what I was told, in my own words because that’s how I roll.

Surveys show that around 70–90% of people multitask in some form during a typical day, depending on how multitasking is defined. The most solid, recent figures come from workplace and digital‑device studies.

I listen to an audiobook each morning while checking emails and reading blog posts and during the day I may hove the TV on playing something on YouTube while working on the computer writing things like this.

However, research on attention and task switching suggests that multitasking is not always as productive as it appears.

One advantage of multitasking is that it can help people manage simple or routine activities more efficiently. For example, folding laundry while listening to an audiobook or walking while making a phone call may save time without significantly reducing performance. In these cases, one task is usually automatic enough that it does not require full attention.

Multitasking can also create a sense of momentum. When people have many small responsibilities, moving between them can help them feel productive and responsive. It may be especially useful in roles where quick reactions are needed, such as customer service, event coordination, or managing household responsibilities.

However, the main disadvantage of multitasking is that most complex tasks cannot truly be done at the same time. Instead, the brain rapidly switches attention from one task to another. This switching can slow people down, increase mistakes, and make it harder to remember details. The American Psychological Association describes these “switching costs” as a drain on efficiency, especially when tasks are unfamiliar or mentally demanding.

Multitasking may also reduce the quality of work. Writing, studying, problem-solving, and decision-making usually require sustained concentration. When attention is divided by notifications, conversations, or unrelated tasks, people may produce work that is less accurate, less creative, or less thoughtful. Over time, constant switching can also contribute to mental fatigue and stress.

So how many of my followers multitask and feel it is a pro not a con.