Meaning & use
epiglottis
A flap of cartilage at the base of the tongue that prevents food from entering the windpipe.
See it in a sentence
The epiglottis closes automatically each time you swallow to protect your airway.
Doctors examined her epiglottis after she complained of persistent difficulty swallowing.
A note on using this word
When someone chokes or coughs while eating, it often means food briefly slipped past the epiglottis.
Words with a similar meaning
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