Epiglottis - wikipedia Epiglottis Epiglottis Posterior view of the larynx. The epiglottis is the most superior structure shown. Details Precursor Hypopharyngeal eminence Identifiers Latin Epiglottis MeSH D004825 TA A06. 2.07. 001 FMA 55130 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) The epiglottis is a flap in the throat that keeps food from entering the windpipe and the lungs. The flap is made of elastic cartilage covered with a mucous membrane, attached to the entrance of the larynx. It projects obliquely upwards behind the tongue and the hyoid bone, pointing dorsally. It stands open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx. During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration, forcing the swallowed liquids or food to go along the esophagus instead. It is thus the valve that diverts passage to either the trachea or the esophagus. The epiglottis gets its name from being above the glottis ( epi - + glottis ). There are taste buds on the epiglottis. Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Microanatomy 1.2 Development 1.3 Variation 2 Function 2.1 Gag reflex 2.2 Speech sounds 3 Clinical significance 3.1 Inflammation 4 History 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Structure The epiglottis is shaped somewhat like a leaf of purslane, with the stem attached to the internal surface of the thyroid cartilage. The epiglottis is one of nine cartilaginous structures that make up the larynx ( voice box ). During breathing, it lies completely within the larynx. During swallowing, it serves as part of the anterior of the pharynx. Microanatomy The body of the epiglottis consists of elastic cartilage. The epiglottis has two surfaces, a forward - facing surface facing the tongue, and a posterior surface facing the larynx. The entire lingual surface and the apical portion of the laryngeal surface ( since it is vulnerable to abrasion due to its relation to the digestive tract ) are covered by stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. However, some parts of the laryngeal surface, which is in relation to the respiratory system, has respiratory epithelium : pseudostratified, ciliated columnar cells and mucus secreting goblet cells. Development The epiglottis arises from the fourth pharyngeal arch. It can be seen as a distinct structure later than the other cartilage of the pharynx, visible around the fifth month of development. Variation A high rising epiglottis A high - rising epiglottis is a normal anatomical variation, visible during an oral examination, which does not cause any serious problem apart from a mild sensation of a foreign body in the throat. It is seen more often in children than adults and does not need any medical or surgical intervention. Function The epiglottis is normally pointed upward during breathing with its underside functioning as part of the pharynx. During swallowing, elevation of the hyoid bone draws the larynx upward ; as a result, the epiglottis folds down to a more horizontal position, with its superior side functioning as part of the pharynx. In this manner, the epiglottis prevents food from going into the trachea and instead directs it to the esophagus, which is behind it. Swallowing with little to no aspiration of food can occur even when there is no epiglottis ( such as when destroyed by disease ). Gag reflex Should food or liquid enter the windpipe due to the epiglottis failing to close properly, the gag reflex is induced to protect the respiratory system. The glossopharyngeal nerve sends fibers to the upper epiglottis that contribute to the afferent limb of the gag reflex. ( The gag reflex is variable in people from a limited to a hypersensitive response. ) The superior laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve sends fibers to the lower epiglottis that contribute to the efferent limb of the cough reflex. This initiates an attempt to try to dislodge the food or liquid from the windpipe. Speech sounds In some languages, the epiglottis is used to produce epiglottal consonant speech sounds, though this sound - type is rather rare. Clinical significance Inflammation Main article : Epiglottitis Inflammation of the epiglottis is known as epiglottitis. Epiglottitis is mainly caused by Haemophilus influenzae. A person with epiglottitis may have a fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing. For this reason, acute epiglottitis is considered a medical emergency, because of the risk of obstruction of the pharynx. Epiglottitis is often managed with antibiotics, racemic epinephrine ( a sympathomimetic bronchodilator that is delivered by aerosol ), and may require tracheal intubation or a tracheostomy if breathing is difficult. Behind the root of the tongue is an epiglottic vallecula which is an important anatomical landmark in intubation. The incidence of epiglottitis has decreased significantly in countries where vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae is administered. History The epiglottis was first described by Aristotle, although the epiglottis ' function was first defined by Vesalius in 1543. It also has Greek roots. Additional images Epiglotic cartilage. Larynx Cut through the larynx of a horse Larynx. 1 = vocal folds, 2 = vestibular fold, 3 = epiglottis, 4 = plica aryepiglottica, 5 = arytenoid cartilage, 6 = sinus piriformis, 7 = dorsum of the tongue See also This article uses anatomical terminology ; for an overview, see Anatomical terminology. Epiglottal consonant Epiglotto - pharyngeal consonant Pharyngeal consonant References Jump up ^ Stevenson, Roger E. ( 2006 ). Human malformations and related anomalies. Oxford ( Oxfordshire ) : Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 - 19 - 516568 - 3. Jump up ^ Jowett, A. ; Shrestha, R. ( 1998 ). `` Mucosa and taste buds of the human epiglottis ''. Journal of Anatomy. 193 ( 4 ) : 617 -- 618. doi : 10.1046 / j. 1469 - 7580.1998. 19340617. x. ^ Jump up to : editor - in - chief, Susan Standring ; section editors, Neil R. Borley ; et al. ( 2008 ). Gray 's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice ( 40th ed. ). London : Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8089 - 2371 - 8. CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. ( link ) CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Schoenwolf, Gary C. ; et al. ( 2009 ). `` '' Development of the Urogenital system `` ''. Larsen 's human embryology ( 4th ed., Thoroughly rev. and updated. ed. ). Philadelphia : Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier. p. 362. ISBN 9780443068119. Jump up ^ Petkar, Nadeem ; Georgalas, Christos ; Bhattacharyya, Abir ( September 2007 ). `` High - rising epiglottis in children : should it cause concern ? ''. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM. 20 ( 5 ) : 495 -- 496. doi : 10.3122 / jabfm. 2007.05. 060212. ISSN 1557 - 2625. PMID 17823468. Jump up ^ April, Ernest. Clinical Anatomy, 3rd ed. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins. Jump up ^ Nicki R. Colledge ; Brian R. Walker ; Stuart H. Ralston, eds. ( 2010 ). Davidson 's principles and practice of medicine. illustrated by Robert Britton ( 21st ed. ). Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier. p. 681. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7020 - 3084 - 0. Jump up ^ Reilly, Brian ; Reddy, Srijaya K. ; Verghese, Susan T. ( Oct 2012 ). `` Acute epiglottitis in the era of post-Haemophilus influenzae type B ( HIB ) vaccine ''. Journal of Anesthesia. 27 ( 2 ) : 316 -- 7. doi : 10.1007 / s00540 - 012 - 1500 - 9. PMID 23076559. Retrieved Nov 15, 2014. Jump up ^ Hermansen, MN ; Schmidt, J.H. ; Krug, A.H. ; Larsen, K ; Kristensen, S ( Apr 2014 ). `` Low incidence of children with acute epiglottis after introduction of vaccination ''. Dan Med J. 61 ( 4 ) : A4788. PMID 24814584. Jump up ^ Lydiatt, Daniel D. ; Bucher, Gregory S. ( 2010 ). `` The historical Latin and etymology of selected anatomical terms of the larynx ''. Clinical Anatomy : NA. doi : 10.1002 / ca. 20912. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epiglottis. lesson11 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman ( Georgetown University ) ( larynxsagsect ) Anatomy of the larynx Cartilage major / unpaired : Epiglottis Vallecula Thyroid Adam 's apple Cricoid minor / paired : Arytenoid Vocal process Muscular process Corniculate Cuneiform Ligaments / folds extrinsic ligaments : Hyoepiglottic ligament Thyrohyoid membrane Lateral ligament Median ligament Thyroepiglottic ligament Cricotracheal ligament intrinsic ligaments, upper : Quadrangular membrane Aryepiglottic Vestibular ligament / Vestibular fold intrinsic ligaments, lower : Cricothyroid ligament Median Lateral / Conus elasticus Vocal ligament / Vocal folds Laryngeal cavity Laryngeal inlet Vestibule Rima vestibuli Ventricle Rima glottidis / Glottis Infraglottic cavity Laryngeal muscles Cricothyroid Cricoarytenoid posterior lateral Arytenoid oblique arytenoid aryepiglottic transverse arytenoid Thyroarytenoid vocal thyroepiglottic Other Cricothyroid articulation Cricoarytenoid articulation Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epiglottis&oldid=839924805 '' Categories : Digestive system Larynx Human throat Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from June 2010 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Български Bosanski Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge 한국어 Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Kurdî Lietuvių Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English کوردی Suomi Svenska తెలుగు ไทย Українська ייִדיש 中文 29 more Edit links This page was last edited on 6 May 2018, at 16 : 28. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: inflammation of the structure covering the entrance to the larynx
Answer: epiglottitis