Food is Prevented from Entering the Trachea by The

Question

Food is prevented from entering the trachea by the
A)pharynx.
B)larynx.
C)epiglottis.
D)glottis.
E)sphincter muscle.

Accepted Answer

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue at the base of the tongue that closes off the trachea during swallowing, preventing food and drink from entering the trachea and lungs. The pharynx and larynx are structures involved in the process of swallowing and vocalization, but they do not directly prevent food from entering the trachea. The glottis is the opening between the vocal cords in the larynx and does not prevent food from entering the trachea. A sphincter muscle is a circular muscle that can close a tube or opening, but there is no specific sphincter muscle involved in preventing food from entering the trachea.