What protects food from entering the larynx when swallowing?
The epiglottis, which is located just superior to the larynx is a flap-like structure that covers the opening of the larynx during swallowing. It prevents food and liquid from entering the trachea and harming the lungs. b. Vocal cords or voice box, which is located at the top of the trachea.
What tissue covers the opening of the larynx to keep food and water out of the lungs?
The epiglottis (eh-pih-GLAH-tus), a small flap of tissue, covers the air-only passage when we swallow, keeping food and liquid from going into the lungs. The larynx, or voice box, is the top part of the air-only pipe. This short tube contains a pair of vocal cords, which vibrate to make sounds.
Which respiratory system structure covers the larynx to allow food passage into the esophagus?
The epiglottis is a flexible flap at the superior end of the larynx in the throat. It acts as a switch between the larynx and the esophagus to permit air to enter the airway to the lungs and food to pass into the gastrointestinal tract.
What is the name of the structure that covers the airway while swallowing food?
Molly Knigge. Swallowing is one of the most obvious functions the epiglottis serves, because it hoods over the airway, or larynx, when you eat and drink. When you swallow, the muscles in your throat respond by pulling the voice box up and underneath the tongue, and the epiglottis is pulled to cover over the larynx.
When swallowing the epiglottis does not prevents food from entering the larynx?
The epiglottis is usually upright at rest allowing air to pass into the larynx and lungs. When a person swallows the epiglottis folds backward to cover the entrance of the larynx so food and liquid do not enter the windpipe and lungs.
What protects the trachea from food or liquids entering?
epiglottis – large , leaf-shaped piece of cartilage lying on top of larynx; during swallowing the larynx elevates, causing the epiglottis to fall on the glottis (opening into larynx) like a lid, closing it off – this prevents food from entering the windpipe (trachea).