Which structure closes off the larynx during swallowing?

• A. Epiglottis
• B. Uvula
• C. Tongue
• D. Esophagus

Answer: (A)

Airway protection during swallowing relies on the larynx being closed so food cannot enter the airway. A leaf-shaped cartilage called the epiglottis acts as a movable flap that folds down to cover the opening of the larynx as you swallow. This directs the bolus into the esophagus and helps prevent aspiration. The uvula helps close the nasopharynx to keep food out of the nasal cavity, not the larynx. The esophagus is the tube that carries food to the stomach, with its own openings and sphincters, but it doesn’t close the airway. So, the structure that closes off the larynx during swallowing is the epiglottis.