First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
epiglottis
noun epi·glot·tis \-ˈglä-təs\
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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Origin of EPIGLOTTIS
New Latin, from Greek epiglōttis, from epi- + glōttis glottis
Rhymes with EPIGLOTTIS
Medical Dictionary
epiglottis
noun epi·glot·tis \ˌep-ə-ˈglät-əs\
Medical 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
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