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The "guardian of the airways" that prevents food from entering the superior opening of the larynx is the thyroid cartilage. True or False?

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The guardian of the airways is the epiglottis, not the thyroid cartilage.

Step-by-step explanation:

False. The guardian of the airways that prevents food from entering the superior opening of the larynx is the epiglottis, not the thyroid cartilage. The epiglottis is a flexible piece of elastic cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea, and when in the 'closed' position, it rests on the glottis.

User Sarkiroka
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