Question
Biology Question on Parts of the digestive system
Two friends are eating together on a dining table. One of them suddenly starts coughing while swallowing some food. This coughing would have been due to improper movement of
A
epiglottis
B
diaphragm
C
neck
D
tongue
Answer
epiglottis
Explanation
Solution
The coughing would have been due to improper movement of e piglottis. Laryngopharynx possesses an aperture called glottis that leads into trachea. During the swallowing of food, glottis is closed by a leaf like cartilage called epiglottis, so that the food does not enter the trachea. If during eating, epiglottis remains open, then the food particles may enter the trachea leading to reflex action of coughing. This removes the food particles from the trachea so that the breathing does not get obstructed