What structure in the airway prevents food and liquid from entering the lungs?

Answer 1

Epiglotis, a cartilaginous flap that lies above the voice box. when you start to swallow, the epiglotis covers the entrance to the voice box, the initial part of the respiratory tract.

You can see the epiglotis in the young babies when their mouth is wide open, because their voice box is higher. The higher placed voice box allows them to breast (or bottle) feed and breath at the same time. Milk flows around, left and right, the voice box into the esophagus, instead of over the top of it if it was placed lower. As the baby grows the voice box descends, making it no longer possible to breath and eat at the same time.

Answer 2

The epiglottis is the flap that prevents food and drink from entering the respiratory system. It is located right about the larynx (voice box) and pushes food and drink back into the digestive tracts. This cartilaginous flap simply falls limp when one begins to breath again.

Answer 3

The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped, flap-like structure made of elastic cartilage that covers the trachea like a lid. The epiglottis directs food to the stomach (through the esophagus) and air to the lungs (through the trachea).

When you swallow, your epiglottis closes off your larynx leaving the only open passage the esophagus. This is why we cannot breathe and swallow at the same time.

If people do not have good dental hygiene they leave small particles of food which they leave in their mouths. These get mixed with air and can be breathed into the lungs. Many asthmatics swallow using tongue thrust. This too leaves food in the throat. This also causes food to be breathed into the lungs. Thus the epiglottis is not perfect but only works when food is actually sent down in a deliberate swallow.

Answer 4

The epiglottis is the structure that prevents food from entering the trachea. It is made of connective tissue. This video gives you a visual of this mechanism.

Answer 5

Epiglottis.

Your welcome.

M.S

Answer 6

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that sits at the base of the tongue that keeps food from going into the trachea, or windpipe, during swallowing.

Answer 7

The epiglottis prevents food from going down your windpipe, e.g. the main bronchi.

Answer 8

No, the thyroid cartilage forms the "Adam's apple." The epiglottis prevents food from entering the larynx during swallowing.

Answer 9

The epiglottis is the strtcture that prevents food from entering the trachea. It is made of connective tissue.

Answer 10

It is called as epiglottis. Epiglottis covers the trachea during the process of swallowing.