23.7 Anat: Larynx and laryngopharynx Flashcards
Where does the larynx start and end?
Epiglottis to C6/lower border of cricoid cartilage
What is the laryngeal skeleton composed of? (lateral view)
Hyoid bone
Thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
What is a feature of the larynx that is important for the laryngeal inlet?
It is open posteriorly
What are the processes on the arytenoid cartilages for?
Projecting forwards: for vocal ligaments
Projeting laterally/posteriorly: muscular process
What is the arytenoid cartilage important for?
Adduction of vocal ligaments
What is the epiglottis important for?
When swallowing, a bolus pushes the epiglottis down protecting the laryngeal inlet
What do we see when looking down the throat with a laryngoscope?
First, vestibular fold (false vocal cord)
Then vocal fold (true vocal cord)
What positions do the vocal ligaments need to be in for phonation/breathing?
Phonation: adducted
Breathing: abducted
(like lips)
What alters the position of vocal ligaments?
Intrinsic muscles of larynx
What is the abductor of vocal ligaments?
Adductor?
Ab: Posterior cricoarytenoid
Ad: Lateral cricoarytenoid
What shortens the vocal ligaments? What does this produce?
Shortens: thyroarytenoid contraction (loose, low pitch)
What lengthens the vocal ligaments? What does this produce?
Cricothyroid, (stretches ligament, higher pitched sounds)
What is the sensory innervation to the larynx’s mucosa?
Internal laryngeal
What innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? Except?
Inferior laryngeal (except cricothyroid)
What innervates cricothyroid muscle?
What occurs if you damage this nerve?
External laryngeal (damage, problems with high pitch)
What does the recurrent laryngeal innervate? What can occur?
Damage: hoarse voice, stridor (can’t ad/abduct)
What is the major blood supply of the larynx?
The superior thyroid vessels, inferior laryngeal vessels (very vascular area)
What should you do to access emergency airway?
Cricothyroid membrane puncture (NOT tracheotomy)
What is the sensory nerve supply of the pharynx?
Glossopharyngeal (pharyngeal bnches)
Trigeminal (maxillary nerve pharyngeal bnches)
Vagus (internal laryngeal)
What nerves are needed for the afferent and efferent arcs of the gag reflex?
Afferent: glossopharyngeal
Efferent: Vagus
What is the motor nerve supply of the pharynx? Except?
Vagus (except stylopharyngeus)
What innervates stylopharyngeus?
Glossopharyngeal
