A neonate while suckling milk can respire without difficulty due to:
Infant's larynx is positioned high in the neck level of glottis being opposite to C3 or C4 at rest and reaches Cl or C2 during swallowing. This high position allows the epiglottis to meet soft palate and make anasopharyngeal channel for nasal breathing during suckling.The milk feed passes separately over the dorsum of tongue and the side of epiglottis, thus allowing breathing and feeding to go on simultaneously.
Sta soft palate
Small tongue
High larynx
Small pharynx