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The epiglottis is made of elastic cartilage covered with a mucous membrane, attached to the entrance of the larynx. It projects upwards and backwards behind the tongue and the hyoid bone. The epiglottis may be inflamed in a condition called epiglottitis, which is most commonly due to the vaccine-preventable bacterium Haemophilus influenzae.
Epiglottitis is the inflammation of the epiglottis—the flap at the base of the tongue that prevents food entering the trachea (windpipe). [7] Symptoms are usually rapid in onset and include trouble swallowing which can result in drooling, changes to the voice, fever, and an increased breathing rate.
The epiglottic valleculae are paired spaces between the root of the tongue and anterior surface of the epiglottis. Each vallecula is bordered medially by the median glossoepiglottic fold and laterally by the lateral glossoepiglottic fold. The valleculae can collect saliva to prevent initiation of the swallowing reflex.
The upper front surface of the tongue just behind the tip, called the blade of the tongue ; The surface of the tongue under the tip ; The body of the tongue which is sometimes further divided into front and back; The base a.k.a. root of the tongue and the throat ; The aryepiglottic fold inside the throat (aryepiglottal)
The esophagus carries food through the throat to the stomach. [5] Adenoids and tonsils help prevent infection and are composed of lymph tissue. The larynx contains vocal cords, the epiglottis (preventing food/liquid inhalation), and an area known as the subglottic larynx, in children it is the narrowest section of the upper part of the throat ...
The anterior or lingual surface of the epiglottis is curved forward, and covered on its upper, free part by mucous membrane which is reflected on to the sides and root of the tongue, forming a median and two lateral glossoepiglottic folds; the lateral folds are partly attached to the wall of the pharynx.
In front, they are bounded by the epiglottis. Behind, they are bounded by the apices of the arytenoid cartilages , the corniculate cartilages , and the interarytenoid notch. [ 2 ] Within the posterior part of each aryepiglottic fold exists a cuneiform cartilage which forms a whitish prominence, the cuneiform tubercle.
An ENT specialist or otolaryngologist will be able to confirm the diagnosis as well as provide any necessary treatment [3] if required. The ENT will use an instrument called a laryngoscope in order to push the tongue down and in order to lift up the epiglottis which is the small flap in the back of the throat that covers the windpipe.