epiglottis

American  

[ep-i-glot-is] / ˌɛp ɪˈglɒt ɪs /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

epiglottises, epiglottides

1. a thin, valvelike, cartilaginous structure that covers the glottis during swallowing, preventing the entrance of food and drink into the larynx.

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epiglottis British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈɡlɒtɪs /

noun

1. a thin cartilaginous flap that covers the entrance to the larynx during swallowing, preventing food from entering the trachea

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epiglottis Scientific  

/ ĕp′ĭ-glŏt′ĭs /

1. A thin, triangular plate of cartilage at the base of the tongue that covers the glottis during swallowing to keep food from entering the trachea.

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Other Word Forms

• epiglottal adjective
• epiglottic adjective
• epiglottidean adjective
• subepiglottal adjective
• subepiglottic adjective

Etymology

Origin of epiglottis

1605–15; < Greek epiglōttís; epi-, glottis

Compare meaning

How does epiglottis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• glottis vs. epiglottis

Example Sentences

A bit below the epiglottis, mammals have evolved additional folds of tissue, called vocal cords or vocal folds, which produce sounds when air exhaled from the lungs causes them to vibrate.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2024

But after he finished a well-beaten sixth it was determined he had an epiglottis issue and he hasn’t raced since.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2022

When swallowing, the epiglottis closes the glottis and food passes into the esophagus and not the trachea.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Normally the epiglottis, a leaf-shaped flap located at the base of the throat, folds over the trachea as we swallow to prevent the food meant for the esophagus from going down the wrong tube.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2022

Then he slid the scope over Monet’s tongue and pushed the tongue out of the way so that he could see down the airway past the epiglottis, a dark hole leading inward to the lungs.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston