23.7 Anat: Larynx and laryngopharynx

Question 1

Where does the larynx start and end?

Answer 1

Epiglottis to C6/lower border of cricoid cartilage

Question 2

What is the laryngeal skeleton composed of? (lateral view)

Answer 2

Hyoid bone
Thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage

Question 3

What is a feature of the larynx that is important for the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 3

It is open posteriorly

Question 4

What are the processes on the arytenoid cartilages for?

Answer 4

Projecting forwards: for vocal ligaments

Projeting laterally/posteriorly: muscular process

Question 5

What is the arytenoid cartilage important for?

Answer 5

Adduction of vocal ligaments

Question 6

What is the epiglottis important for?

Answer 6

When swallowing, a bolus pushes the epiglottis down protecting the laryngeal inlet

Question 7

What do we see when looking down the throat with a laryngoscope?

Answer 7

First, vestibular fold (false vocal cord)

Then vocal fold (true vocal cord)

Question 8

What positions do the vocal ligaments need to be in for phonation/breathing?

Answer 8

Phonation: adducted

Breathing: abducted

(like lips)

Question 9

What alters the position of vocal ligaments?

Answer 9

Intrinsic muscles of larynx

Question 10

What is the abductor of vocal ligaments?

Adductor?

Answer 10

Ab: Posterior cricoarytenoid

Ad: Lateral cricoarytenoid

Question 11

What shortens the vocal ligaments? What does this produce?

Answer 11

Shortens: thyroarytenoid contraction (loose, low pitch)

Question 12

What lengthens the vocal ligaments? What does this produce?

Answer 12

Cricothyroid, (stretches ligament, higher pitched sounds)

Question 13

What is the sensory innervation to the larynx’s mucosa?

Answer 13

Internal laryngeal

Question 14

What innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? Except?

Answer 14

Inferior laryngeal (except cricothyroid)

Question 15

What innervates cricothyroid muscle?

What occurs if you damage this nerve?

Answer 15

External laryngeal (damage, problems with high pitch)

Question 16

What does the recurrent laryngeal innervate? What can occur?

Answer 16

Damage: hoarse voice, stridor (can’t ad/abduct)

Question 17

What is the major blood supply of the larynx?

Answer 17

The superior thyroid vessels, inferior laryngeal vessels (very vascular area)

Question 18

What should you do to access emergency airway?

Answer 18

Cricothyroid membrane puncture (NOT tracheotomy)

Question 19

What is the sensory nerve supply of the pharynx?

Answer 19

Glossopharyngeal (pharyngeal bnches)
Trigeminal (maxillary nerve pharyngeal bnches)
Vagus (internal laryngeal)

Question 20

What nerves are needed for the afferent and efferent arcs of the gag reflex?

Answer 20

Afferent: glossopharyngeal

Efferent: Vagus

Question 21

What is the motor nerve supply of the pharynx? Except?

Answer 21

Vagus (except stylopharyngeus)

Question 22

What innervates stylopharyngeus?

Answer 22

Glossopharyngeal