A part of the pharynx that consists of a flap of elastic cartilage tissue plus a mucous membrane covering, attached to the entrance of the larynx. The epiglottis is found at the root of the tongue and folds back over the entrance to the larynx during swallowing, preventing inhalation of food or drink[MP,modified] [ http://www.informatics.jax.org/accession/llw2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiglottis http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165 ]