The epiglottis closes the esophagus during swallowing to keep food out of the lung.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The statement is false.
The epiglottis does not close the esophagus; it actually closes off the trachea, which leads to the lungs. The main role of the epiglottis is to prevent food and liquids from entering the respiratory tract during swallowing. When food is swallowed, the epiglottis folds down over the opening of the trachea (the windpipe) to create a barrier and direct the swallowed material into the esophagus, which leads to the stomach.
The process begins when food enters the mouth. As the food is chewed, it is formed into a bolus. When swallowing occurs, the bolus is pushed to the back of the mouth, stimulating the swallowing reflex. The larynx, which houses the vocal cords, rises as part of the process. The epiglottis, a flap of cartilage at the base of the tongue, then folds over the opening of the larynx (the glottis), effectively sealing off the trachea. This prevents food or liquid from being inhaled into the lungs. The food is instead directed into the esophagus, a muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
The esophagus is part of the digestive system, not the respiratory system, and it carries the bolus down to the stomach using a process called peristalsis, a series of coordinated muscle contractions. If food or liquid accidentally enters the trachea, it can lead to choking or aspiration, which may cause respiratory issues like aspiration pneumonia. Thus, the role of the epiglottis in preventing food from entering the trachea is critical to maintaining both safe swallowing and proper respiratory function.