Epiglottis (Epiglottis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The epiglottis is a flexible, leaf-shaped plate of yellow elastic cartilage situated behind the root of the tongue and the body of the hyoid bone. Attached by its stalk (petiolus) to the inner angle of the thyroid cartilage by the thyroepiglottic ligament, it acts as a dynamic diverter valve during deglutition, folding backward over the laryngeal inlet to direct the food bolus into the esophagus and prevent tracheal aspiration.
Clinical notes
Acute epiglottitis (most commonly due to Haemophilus influenzae type b or Streptococcus) is a critical airway emergency presenting with high fever, sore throat, stridor, and the "tripod sign"; examination with a tongue depressor is contraindicated due to risk of fatal reflex laryngospasm.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Epiglottis?
The epiglottis is a flexible, leaf-shaped plate of yellow elastic cartilage situated behind the root of the tongue and the body of the hyoid bone. Attached by its stalk (petiolus) to the inner angle of the thyroid cartilage by the thyroepiglottic ligament, it acts as a dynamic diverter valve during deglutition, folding backward over the laryngeal inlet to direct the food bolus into the esophagus and prevent tracheal aspiration.
Why is the Epiglottis clinically important?
Acute epiglottitis (most commonly due to Haemophilus influenzae type b or Streptococcus) is a critical airway emergency presenting with high fever, sore throat, stridor, and the "tripod sign"; examination with a tongue depressor is contraindicated due to risk of fatal reflex laryngospasm.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details