noun
Anatomical term for the flap of cartilage that covers the windpipe during swallowing.
会厭軟骨は、飲み込むときに気管をふさぐ役割をしている。
The epiglottis plays the role of closing the trachea when swallowing.
The term is composed of kanji meaning 'meet', 'dislike', and 'cartilage', but the exact derivation is uncertain; it is a conventional anatomical spelling.