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Definition of epiglottis
: a thin plate of flexible cartilage in front of the glottis that folds back over and protects the glottis during swallowing
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Recent Examples of epiglottis from the Web
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Sometimes the tongue propels saliva backward before the epiglottis has time to cover the airway.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'epiglottis'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of epiglottis
New Latin, from Greek epiglōttis, from epi- + glōttis glottis
Medical Dictionary
epiglottis
playMedical 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
Learn More about epiglottis
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See words that rhyme with epiglottis Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epiglottis
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