Which of the following is NOT a benefit of breathing through the nose? extraction of heat and moisture from the air leaving the nasal cavity destruction of pathogens entering the nasopharynx filtration of the air entering the nasal cavity heating and moistening the air entering the nasal cavity Solution B. Destruction of pathogens entering the nasopharynx The pathogens are trappped by the mucous, but are not destroyed. The mucus is driven off and either enters the GI tract or is spit out. This prevents the pathogens from gaining access to the epithelium, and subsequent infection..