Inspired air passes through the pharynx and passes over the epiglottis to enter the larynx. HA3 is a sagittal section of an epiglottis showing both the lingual (right) and laryngeal (left) surfaces. Mucous glands occur on the laryngeal side near the base of the epiglottis (HA3 arrows). On the lingual side there are more connective tissue papillae interdigitating with the epithelium than there are on the laryngeal surface due the mechanical stresses on this side of the structure. At the core is elastic cartilage (ec; CT lab HA21) to provide support and resiliency to this structure.