Medical Term:
epiglottis
Pronunciation: ep′i-glot′is
Definition: A leaf-shaped plate of elastic fibrocartilage, covered with mucous membrane, at the root of the tongue, which serves as a diverter valve over the superior aperture of the larynx during the act of swallowing; it stands erect when liquids are being swallowed but is passively bent over the aperture by solid foods being swallowed.
[G. epiglōttis, fr. epi, on, + glōttis, the mouth of the windpipe]
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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
