Final answer:
The paired spaces bound by the glossoepiglottic folds at the base of the tongue connected to the epiglottis are known as valleculae. These spaces are part of the oropharynx, which is a passage for both air and food, and where the palatine and lingual tonsils are located.
Step-by-step explanation:
The base of the tongue is connected to the epiglottis by the glossoepiglottic folds, which bound paired spaces known as valleculae. These spaces serve as channels to help direct food and liquids into the esophagus while swallowing. The oropharynx is a complex region that functions in both respiration and digestion, bordered by the nasopharynx and anteriorly by the oral cavity. It undergoes a transformation in epithelium from the nasopharynx to the stratified squamous epithelium that handles the potential damage from ingested food. Containing lymphoid tissue in the form of palatine and lingual tonsils, the oropharynx plays an important role in the immune response by trapping and destroying pathogens entering the body.