Word of the Day: Epiglottis

This word has been tumbling around my brain today, and since it was my turn to do the Word of the Day anyway, I decided to use it! It may come in handy for those of you who write medical fiction! Also, it's a good body part to know.

Epiglottis:
(n.)
Parent language: Greek
A thin flap of cartilaginous tissue that covers the larynx's entrance when one is swallowing, preventing food from "going down the wrong tube".

Sentence: Despite regular prenatal checkups, the baby was born unwhole; he lacked an epiglottis. This deformity was discovered after the infant almost choked on the milk he was given; luckily, a crash team was on hand, and the infant was rescued and immediately given synthetic tissue in place of what he lacked.