Leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food from entering the windpipe and the lungs
Epiglottis
View of the larynx from behind. The epiglottis is the structure at the top of the image.
Details
Precursor
Fourth pharyngeal arch[1]
Function
Prevent food from entering the respiratory tract
Identifiers
Latin
epiglottis
MeSH
D004825
TA98
A06.2.07.001
TA2
3190
FMA
55130
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]
The epiglottis (pl.: epiglottises or epiglottides) is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from entering the trachea and the lungs. It stays open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx. During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs, forcing the swallowed liquids or food to go along the esophagus toward the stomach instead. It is thus the valve that diverts passage to either the trachea or the esophagus.
The epiglottis is made of elastic cartilage covered with a mucous membrane, attached to the entrance of the larynx. It projects upwards and backwards behind the tongue and the hyoid bone.
The epiglottis may be inflamed in a condition called epiglottitis, which is most commonly due to the vaccine-preventable bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. Dysfunction may cause the inhalation of food, called aspiration, which may lead to pneumonia or airway obstruction. The epiglottis is also an important landmark for intubation.
The epiglottis has been identified as early as Aristotle, and gets its name from being above the glottis (epi- + glottis).
^Cite error: The named reference Schoenwolf2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
The epiglottis (pl.: epiglottises or epiglottides) is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from entering the trachea and the...
The cavity of the larynx extends from its triangle-shaped inlet, to the epiglottis, and to the circular outlet at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage...
Epiglottitis is the inflammation of the epiglottis—the flap at the base of the tongue that prevents food entering the trachea (windpipe). Symptoms are...
the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the esophagus, while shutting the epiglottis. Swallowing is an important part of eating and drinking. If the process...
It contains the pharynx and larynx. An important section of it is the epiglottis, separating the esophagus from the trachea (windpipe), preventing food...
the epiglottis is peculiarly modified so that it is thin, erect and flexible. When a stream of air is forced from the trachea, the epiglottis vibrates...
the esophagus and air to the larynx. The flap of cartilage called the epiglottis stops food from entering the larynx. In humans, the pharynx is part of...
Hakea epiglottis is a shrub commonly known as beaked hakea or needlebush hakea and is endemic to Tasmania where populations consist of functional unisexual...
Other components include the mouth, salivary glands, tongue, teeth and epiglottis. The largest structure of the digestive system is the gastrointestinal...
pharyngeals, which are articulated with the aryepiglottic folds against the epiglottis at the entrance of the larynx, as well as from epiglotto-pharyngeal consonants...
secondary articulation of consonants or vowels by which the pharynx or epiglottis is constricted during the articulation of the sound. In the International...
angle of the thyroid cartilage immediately below the attachment of the epiglottis, and behind to the antero-lateral surface of the arytenoid cartilage,...
shortened aryepiglottic folds cause the epiglottis to be curled on itself. This is the well known "omega shaped" epiglottis in laryngomalacia. Another common...
Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing. Although classified under "symptoms and signs" in ICD-10, in some contexts it is classified as a condition in its...
paired spaces between the root of the tongue and anterior surface of the epiglottis. Each vallecula is bordered medially by the median glossoepiglottic fold...
Eustachian tube, corniculate and cuneiform laryneal cartilages, and the epiglottis. It contains elastic fiber networks and collagen type II fibers. The principal...
ligamentous and muscular fibres. They extend from the lateral borders of the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages, hence the name 'aryepiglottic'. They contain...
the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind.[citation needed] Its name is derived from Greek hyoeides 'shaped...
connecting the epiglottis and the thyroid cartilage. The hyoepiglottic ligament is an elastic band connecting the anterior surface of the epiglottis, and the...
empties into the uppermost region of the stomach. During swallowing, the epiglottis tilts backwards to prevent food from going down the larynx and lungs....
glossopharyngeal from the posterior 1/3, and the vagus nerve from the epiglottis. The sensory processes, using their primary cell bodies from the inferior...
however, about its center the backward projection of the tubercle of the epiglottis. It contains the vestibular folds, and between these and the vocal folds...
of them become lost, while others are continued to the margin of the epiglottis. They have received a distinctive name, thyroepiglottic muscle, thyreoepiglotticus...
form of ūva "grape" (of unknown origin). A swollen uvula was called ūva. Epiglottis Tonsil Uvula (disambiguation) "eMedicine Definition". Archived from the...
including the Rex, which has a short plush coat. Because the rabbit's epiglottis is engaged over the soft palate except when swallowing, the rabbit is...
overlying ligaments, and by the trachealis muscle at their ends. The epiglottis closes the opening to the larynx during swallowing. The trachea begins...
patient's airway. It does this by preventing the tongue from covering the epiglottis, which could prevent the person from breathing. When a person becomes...
the type of blade used, inserted either anterior or posterior to the epiglottis and then lifted with an upwards and forward motion ("away from you and...
Global Information