Movement of the Epiglottis in Mammals

The spatial positioning of the human larynx and epiglottis relative to the pharynx is uniquely different from that found in other mammals. However, it has not been clearly established whether these anatomical differences reflect functional differences. The epiglottis of the adult human moves downward during swallowing movements Mosher, 1927 Welin, 1939 Johnstone, 1942 Saunders et al., 1951 Rushmer and henderson, 1951 Fink, 1956 Ardran and Kemp, 1967, presumably to protect the airway, but such an action has been disputed in human infants and other mammals.