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Thin leaf-shaped cartilage, covered with mucous membrane, at the root of the tongue, which folds back over the entrance to the larynx, covering it, during the act of swallowing.

The leafshaped lid of cartilage which covers the larynx or upper part of the windpipe during the act of swallowing.

A laryngeal cartilage assisting the act of swallowing.

The cartilage at the root of the tongue that falls upon the glottis, or opening of the larynx.

Cartilaginous valve closing the windpipe.

The leaf-shaped lid that covers the larynx during the act of swallowing.

A thin leaf shaped lamella of fibro-cartilage, yellowish in colour, between the root of the tongue and the entrance to the larynx ; the epistome in Polyzoa ; the epipharynx in Insects.

A fibro-cartilage, situate at the upper part of the larynx, behind the base of the tongue. Its form is oval; texture elastic; thickness greater below than above, and greater in the middle than at the sides. By its smaller extremity, which is the lower, it Is attached to the thyroid cartilage; its two surfaces are covered by the mucous membrane of the pharynx and larynx. The special use of the epiglottis would seem to be to cover the glottis accurately at the moment of deglutition, and, thus, to assist in opposing the passage of alimentary substances into the air tubes.

Cartilaginous lid of the larynx.

A thin leaf-shaped lamella of yellow fibrocartilage placed behind the tongue and in front of the superior opening of the larynx, which it closes during deglutition. [Gr.]

n. [Greek] A leaf-shaped cartilage, whose use is to prevent food or drink from entering the larynx and obstructing the breath while eating.