What does epiglottides mean?
Epiglottides is the classical plural of epiglottis, the small leaf-shaped flap of elastic cartilage positioned at the root of the tongue just above the larynx. Its vital role is protective: when we swallow, it folds down over the opening of the windpipe (the glottis) so that food and liquid are directed into the esophagus rather than the lungs, then springs back to allow free breathing. Because humans have a single epiglottis, the plural appears mainly in comparative anatomy, veterinary medicine, or clinical contexts discussing multiple individuals or species — for example, describing inflammation or malformation of several patients' epiglottides. The word carries a formal, scientific register, drawn from Greek roots meaning 'upon' and 'the mouth of the windpipe'. It is useful chiefly for readers of medical literature, though its striking function makes it memorable to anyone curious about how the body keeps swallowing and breathing from colliding.
nounThe plural of epiglottis: the leaf-shaped flap of elastic cartilage at the base of the tongue that folds over the entrance to the windpipe during swallowing, preventing food and drink from entering the lungs.
- (plural only) The flap-like structures of elastic cartilage situated behind the tongue that cover the glottis during swallowing.
"During the examination, the physician noted that both epiglottides appeared healthy and moved freely."
"Inflammation of the epiglottides can obstruct the airway and requires urgent medical attention."
"Comparative anatomy texts often contrast the structure of the epiglottides across different mammals."
'Epiglottides' is the standard plural of 'epiglottis', following the Greek pattern; the anglicized 'epiglottises' also occurs but is less common in medical texts.
"Both specimens showed unusually shaped epiglottides under magnification."
Every swallow you make relies on a tiny leaf of cartilage snapping shut over your windpipe — and anatomists call each one an epiglottis, with 'epiglottides' as its learned Greek-style plural.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of epiglottides
Epiglottides derives from New Latin epiglottis, itself borrowed from Greek epiglōttis, formed from epi- ('upon') and glōttis ('the mouth of the windpipe'), which relates to glōtta or glōtta meaning 'tongue'. The Greek-style plural replaces the Latin '-is' ending with '-ides', mirroring plurals such as 'caryatides' and 'glottides'. Related words sharing the same Greek root include glottis, glottal, and polyglot.
Related word forms
How epiglottides is actually used
A formal anatomical term; in everyday speech and even much clinical writing, the singular 'epiglottis' predominates, since discussion usually concerns one structure per person.
Easily confused with epiglottides
Epiglottides is simply the plural form of epiglottis, referring to more than one such cartilaginous flap.
The esophagus is the food passage itself, whereas the epiglottides are flaps that guard the airway during swallowing.