There would be a good chance that you would get food or drink in your lungs when you eat and/or drink.
you cant eat
they can't be absent stupid answered by a 7 year old
death
food and liquid may enter the trachea during the act of swallowing.
It is the epiglottis.
There is no load connected!
you will need a cast
If a persons epiglottis is not working properly, there are several different things that can happen. You can get acid reflux, trouble swallowing, and your food could go to the wrong place when you eat.
That's your epiglottis.
Your epiglottis come down to close the respiratory tract. The food bolus is pushed back to enter the oesophagus.
During swallowing, the epiglottis covers the glottic opening to prevent aspiration of food or fluids into the lungs.
When swallowing, the epiglottis closes off the trachea to direct food down the esophagus.