epiglottis
noun/ˌepɪˈɡlɒtɪs/
/ˌepɪˈɡlɑːtɪs/
(anatomy)- a thin piece of tissue behind the tongue that prevents food or drink from entering the lungsWord Originlate Middle English: from Greek epiglōttis, from epi ‘upon, near to’ + glōtta ‘tongue’.
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epiglottis