Epiglottis

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/epiglottis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the tissue type?Elastic cartilage covered by stratified squamous epithelium (mucous membrane)
2. What is the epiglottis and why is it important?The epiglottis is a leaf‑shaped flap of cartilage in your throat. It covers the airway when you swallow, keeping food from going into your lungs.
3. How does the epiglottis help us swallow food?When you swallow, the epiglottis folds down and back to close the airway. This lets food go into the esophagus instead of the trachea.

Deglutition: The physiological process of swallowing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach.
Aspiration Pneumonia: Lung inflammation caused by inhaling foreign material, often from the oral cavity or stomach.
Laryngoscopy: A medical procedure to examine the larynx using a laryngoscope, often performed before intubation.