The anterior or lingual surface of the

epiglottis The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from entering the trachea and the lungs. It stays open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx. During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration of food in ...

is curved forward, and covered on its upper, free part by

mucous membrane A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It i ...

which is reflected on to the sides and root of the

tongue The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste ...

, forming a median and two lateral glossoepiglottic folds; the lateral folds are partly attached to the wall of the

pharynx The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the oesophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its st ...

Additional Images

File:Slide8ttt.JPG, Median Glossoepiglottic fold File:Slide10ttt.JPG, Lateral Glossoepiglottic fold File:Slide3uuu.JPG, Median Glossoepiglottic fold File:Slide14uuu.JPG, Lateral Glossoepiglottic fold File:Slide1kuku.JPG, Deep dissection of larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind File:Slide3kuku.JPG, Deep dissection of larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind

References

Tongue {{respiratory-stub