Question

Name the cartilaginous flap which closes the glottis to check the entry of food during swallowing

Answer 1

The flap is present in the throat behind the tongue and in front of the larynx. The flap is generally at rest that helps in passing air into the larynx and lungs.

Complete answer:
The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap that is present in the throat helps in preventing the entry of food into the windpipe and the lungs. It closes the glottis to prevent the entry of food during the process of swallowing. It stays open during the process of breathing that allows the air into the larynx. During the process of swallowing, the epiglottis closes itself to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs instead it forces the swallowed food to go inside the stomach along the oesophagus. This valve diverts the passage to either the trachea or the esophagus.

Epiglottis is made of elastic cartilage that is covered with mucous membrane. It originates at
the entrance of the larynx and is later attached to the hyoid bone. From here, it projects upward and backwards behind the tongue. The space that is present in the epiglottis and the tongue is called the vallecula.

Epiglottis is generally located behind the tongue and in front of the larynx allowing air to pass into the larynx and lungs when food is not taken in. When a person takes in the food, the epiglottis folds in a backward direction to cover the larynx so that the food does not enter the windpipe and the lungs. Once the food is taken into and swallowed, the epiglottis returns to its original position.

Note: Inflammation of epiglottis in a condition called epiglottitis which is caused due to the vaccine-preventable bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae. Dysfunction may cause the inhalation of food, called aspiration, which can lead to problems like pneumonia. Acute epiglottitis is an emergency situation that is caused due to the risk of obstruction of the pharynx.