Two friends are eating togeather on a dinning table. One of them suddenly starts coughing while swallowing some food. This coughing would have been due to improper movement of

Options

A. epiglottis
B. diaphragm
C. neck
D. tongue.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Situation**: Two friends are eating together, and one of them begins to cough while swallowing food. This indicates that something went wrong during the swallowing process.

2. **Identifying the Process of Swallowing**: When we swallow, food moves from the oral cavity to the pharynx. The pharynx has different sections, including the oropharynx (behind the oral cavity) and the laryngopharynx (leading to the esophagus and trachea).

3. **Role of the Epiglottis**: The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that covers the opening of the trachea (the windpipe) during swallowing. Its primary function is to prevent food from entering the trachea and directing it into the esophagus.

4. **Coughing Reflex**: The sudden coughing indicates that food may have accidentally entered the trachea instead of the esophagus. This is a reflex action to expel the food and protect the airway.

5. **Conclusion**: The coughing was likely caused by the improper movement of the epiglottis, which failed to cover the glottis (the opening of the trachea) properly during swallowing. This allowed food to enter the trachea, triggering the cough reflex.

6. **Final Answer**: The coughing would have been due to improper movement of the **epiglottis**.

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