Eli5: how come when we get food down the wrong pipe we don’t die of a lung infection?

Question

How come when food goes in the lungs and we choke, the food doesn’t eventually rot in the lungs? How do we get it out or does it decompose

In: Biology

Answer 1

That’s exactly what causes a lot of cases of pneumonia, especially in immunocompromised people.

The trachea (windpipe) is smaller than the esophagus (food tube), so that’s one natural restriction to just how much food can get in there. It’s also sticky all the way down to catch stuff (like a filter).

But when food does get in there, it”s up to the immune system to fight any potential infection just like anywhere else.