Epiglottic vallecula

Epiglottic vallecula
(Vallecula labeled at center right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	vallecula epiglottica
Dorlands /Elsevier	v_02/12843622
TA	A05.3.01.020
FMA	55037
*Anatomical terminology* [edit on Wikidata]

The epiglottic vallecula is a depression (vallecula) just behind the root of the tongue between the folds in the throat. These depressions serve as "spit traps"; saliva is temporarily held in the valleculae to prevent initiation of the swallowing reflex.

The vallecula is an important reference landmark used during intubation of the trachea. The procedure requires the blade-tip of a Macintosh-style laryngoscope to be placed as far as possible into the vallecula in order to facilitate directly visualize the glottis.

Additional Images

Epiglottic vallecula

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

Anatomy of the larynx

Cartilage	major/unpaired: Epiglottis Vallecula Thyroid Adam's apple Cricoid minor/paired: Arytenoid Vocal process Muscular process Corniculate Cuneiform

Ligaments/folds	extrinsic ligaments: Hyoepiglottic ligament Thyrohyoid membrane Lateral ligament Median ligament Thyroepiglottic ligament Cricotracheal ligament intrinsic ligaments, upper: Quadrangular membrane Aryepiglottic Vestibular ligament/Vestibular fold intrinsic ligaments, lower: Cricothyroid ligament Median Lateral/Conus elasticus Vocal ligament/Vocal folds

Laryngeal cavity	Laryngeal inlet Vestibule Rima vestibuli Ventricle Rima glottidis/Glottis Infraglottic cavity

Other	Muscles of larynx Cricothyroid articulation Cricoarytenoid articulation

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