'aryepiglottidean' originates from New Latin / Modern Latin medical formation, specifically from the combining elements 'ary-' (from 'arytenoid') + 'epiglottis' + the adjectival suffix '-ean', where 'ary-' referred to the arytenoid cartilages and 'epiglottis' referred to the epiglottis (the flap above the glottis).

'aryepiglottidean' developed as a descriptive Late Latin/Modern Latin medical formation (e.g. 'ary- + epiglottis' → Latinized compound like 'aryepiglotticus/aryepiglottidean') and was adopted into English anatomical terminology retaining the compound structure.

Initially it denoted anatomy of the arytenoid–epiglottis area in technical Latin usage; over time it has remained a specialized anatomical adjective in modern medical English with essentially the same meaning.