— epiglottal, epiglottic, epiglottidean /ep'i glo tid"ee euhn/ , adj.
/ep'i glot"is/ , n. , pl. epiglottises, epiglottides /-glot"i deez'/ . Anat.
a thin, valvelike, cartilaginous structure that covers the glottis during swallowing, preventing the entrance of food and drink into the larynx. See diag. under larynx .
[ 1605-15; epiglottís; see EPI-, GLOTTIS ]