Why do lungs have small external openings when large openings would let in more air?
There is an advantage to a smaller opening which is that it is
easier to trap pathogens like fungal spores and bacteria. This is
often cited as to why the lungs don't have openings with a shorter
pathway that opens in the chest or back. Some pathogens are trapped
in saliva or mucus in the throat but most of it is caught by the
mucus in the trachea and bronchi.