· Snakes have a small opening behind their tongue called the glottis. That opens into the trachea/windpipe.
· Unlike mammals the reptile glottis is always closed which forms a vertical split except when the snake takes a breath
· A small piece of the cartilage, inside the glottis vibrates when the snake uses force to exert air from its lungs; producing the hiss that snakes are known for.
· Snakes can also extend there glottis out of the side of their mouth while they eat which allows them to breath while the consume larger prey.
· Their trachea is long. However it is supported majorly by cartilaginous rings.
· The trachea ends in front of their hear, and then splits into two primary bronchi airway that guide air to the left or right of the lung.
· Snakes breathe principally by contracting muscles between their ribs. They lack a diaphragm, instead the large smooth muscle controls inhaling and exhaling between the snakes chest and abdomen.
· The area of the snake’s lung closet to its head has a respiratory function, where all the oxygen exchanging occurs.