Definition of Epiglottis
Epiglottis: The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs.
Not everything in medicine is perfectly logical. The name epiglottis was compounded from "epi-" and "- glottis" from the Greek "glotta" meaning "tongue" since it was once believed that the epiglottis was attached to the tongue!
Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionaryhttp://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3284
Last Editorial Review: 1/1/2000
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