glottis
noun
glot·tis ˈglä-təs 
plural glottises or glottides ˈglä-tə-ˌdēz
: the elongated space between the vocal cords
also : the structures that surround this space compare epiglottis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Your glottis, which is the space between your vocal cords, then closes, preventing any further air from entering. 
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 July 2022 The bulge seen during these big, leisurely yawns, is called glottis exposure. Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021 These big, open passages inside the mouth cavity, namely the glottis and the Eustachian tubes, allow sound to pass through the animal and reach the eardrums from the inside as well as the more traditional external route. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2021 But when the glottis is closed, the air can’t move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 See More
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 July 2022 The bulge seen during these big, leisurely yawns, is called glottis exposure. Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021 These big, open passages inside the mouth cavity, namely the glottis and the Eustachian tubes, allow sound to pass through the animal and reach the eardrums from the inside as well as the more traditional external route. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2021 But when the glottis is closed, the air can’t move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. Howard Lewine, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Greek glōttid-, glōttís "upper end of the trachea at the root of the tongue," from glôtta, Attic variant of glôssa "tongue" + -id-, -is, noun suffix — more at gloss entry 3
First Known Use
1578, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
glottis
noun
glot·tis ˈglät-əs
plural glottises or glottides -ə-ˌdēz
: the space between one of the true vocal cords and the arytenoid cartilage on one side of the larynx and those of the other side
also : the structures that surround this space compare epiglottis
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