epiglottis

epi·glot·tis

noun \ˌep-ə-ˈglät-əs\

Definition of EPIGLOTTIS

: a thin lamella of yellow elastic cartilage that ordinarily projects upward behind the tongue and just in front of the glottis and that with the arytenoid cartilages serves to cover the glottis during the act of swallowing

Illustration of EPIGLOTTIS