epiglottis

IPA/ˌepɪˈɡlɒtɪs/
IPA/ˌepɪˈɡlɑːtɪs/

epiglottis — noun

  • epiglottissingular
  • epiglottidesplural

1. Located at the bottom of the throat where the tongue ends, this small movable ti

1.nounB2
Definition

Located at the bottom of the throat where the tongue ends, this small movable tissue flap folds backward to cover the windpipe each time a person swallows. By sealing off the airway, it directs food and liquid into the esophagus instead of the lungs.

Example

Imani's doctor used a tiny camera to check whether her epiglottis was swollen.

check whether [possessive] epiglottis was swollen — medical examination context

Joon choked on water because his epiglottis did not close fast enough over the windpipe.

epiglottis + close over + windpipe — swallowing / choking event

Common collocations
  • the epiglottis closes
  • swollen epiglottis
  • epiglottis covers the windpipe
  • epiglottis prevents aspiration

Grammar Patterns

the epiglottis

[possessive] epiglottis

Usage Note

A medical or biology term. The epiglottis is not visible from the mouth under normal conditions — it sits behind the tongue near the voice box. Swelling of the epiglottis (epiglottitis) is a serious medical condition that requires urgent care.

Common Mistakes

The doctor checked my epiglottis with a tongue depressor.
The doctor checked my epiglottis with a small camera (laryngoscope).
A tongue depressor cannot reach the epiglottis, which sits behind the tongue near the voice box.
The epiglottis is the small thing that hangs at the back of the throat.
The epiglottis is a flap of tissue behind the tongue that covers the windpipe.
The dangling part at the back of the throat is the uvula, not the epiglottis.

Word family

  • glottis
    nounC1
  • epiglottitis
    nounC2
  • larynx
    nounB2
  • esophagus
    nounB2
  • trachea
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms refer to parts of the throat, but each has a distinct function. The glottis is the opening between the vocal cords through which air passes — it is a space, not a flap of tissue. The uvula is the small fleshy piece that hangs at the back of the soft palate; it plays a role in speech sounds but has nothing to do with swallowing protection. The larynx is the whole voice box structure that contains the vocal cords and the glottis. The epiglottis is specifically the movable cartilage flap that covers the larynx during swallowing. A simple way to remember: the epiglottis goes 'over' the glottis (epi- = upon/above). When you swallow and something 'goes down the wrong pipe,' it means the epiglottis did not close in time.

glottisuvulalarynx

Common collocations

Nouns

  • epiglottis cartilage
  • epiglottis tissue
  • epiglottis function
  • epiglottis swelling

Phrases

  • the epiglottis closes over the windpipe
  • the epiglottis prevents aspiration
  • swelling of the epiglottis

Prepositions

  • behind the epiglottis
  • above the epiglottis
  • near the epiglottis

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

From Greek 'epiglottis', composed of 'epi-' meaning 'upon, above' and 'glottis' meaning 'mouth of the windpipe' (from 'glotta' = tongue). The word literally means 'that which is upon the glottis', describing how the epiglottis sits above the opening of the larynx. It entered English via Latin in the early 1600s as a medical term.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above