What structure prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing?

• A. Uvula
• B. Glottis
• C. Epiglottis
• D. Trachea

Answer: (C)

When you swallow, the body protects the airway by using a flap-like structure that covers the opening to the larynx and trachea. The epiglottis acts as a leaf-shaped piece of cartilage that tilts downward to seal off the laryngeal inlet and the glottic opening as you swallow, steering food toward the esophagus and preventing it from entering the trachea. This coordinated action with the surrounding laryngeal muscles and elevation of the larynx is what stops aspiration. The uvula, by contrast, helps seal off the nasal passages during swallowing, so it doesn’t prevent food from entering the airway. The trachea is the airway itself, not a protective mechanism. So the epiglottis is the structure responsible for preventing food from entering the trachea during swallowing.