Which structure closes over the larynx during swallowing?

The structure that closes over the larynx during swallowing is the epiglottis. The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage located at the root of the tongue. Its main function is to prevent food and liquids from entering the windpipe (trachea) while swallowing. When a person swallows, the epiglottis flips down to cover the larynx, which houses the vocal cords and is part of the airway. This action helps direct the bolus of food into the esophagus, ensuring that only air enters the trachea and preventing aspiration into the lungs.

The esophagus is the tube that transports food from the throat to the stomach, but it does not play a direct role in closing off the airway. The trachea is the airway leading to the lungs and remains open during swallowing to facilitate breathing; it does not close over the larynx. The pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, but it does not have the specific role of covering the larynx during swallowing.