Airway Anatomy Flashcards
What are the three paired cartilages of the larynx?
Arytenoid
Corniculate
Cuneiform
What are the three unpaired cartilages of the larynx?
Thyroid
Cricoid
Epiglottis
The only complete cartilagenous ring in the airway is the ________
Cricoid
Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx above the vocal cords?
Internal Branch of the Superior Laryngeal
Originates from the Vagus
Which nerve provides motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle?
The External Branch of the Superior Laryngeal Nerve
Originates from the Vagus Nerve
Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the vocal cords and trachea?
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Which nerve provides motor innervation to nearly all the muscles of the larynx?
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Where does the Right Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve originate?
Subclavian
Where does the Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve originate?
Aortic Arch
What is the muscle that ABducts (opens) the true vocal cords?
Posterior Crico Arytenoid
“Please Come Apart”
Which Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (R or L) is more susceptible to damage?
The Left
longer path down under the aortic arch and up to the airway
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis results in cricoid rotation toward:
the non-paralyzed side
Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, tonsils, and undersurface of the soft palate?
Glossopharyngeal
Where is the superior valecula?
space between the epiglottis and the base of the tongue
Where a MAC blade goes
Where is the inferior valecula?
the space between the inferior edge of the epiglottis and the true vocal cords
What is the function of the transverse and oblique arytenoids?
They ADduct the arytenoids, which closes the vocal ligaments
Also, a portion of the oblique arytenoid (called the aryepiglottic) pulls down on the epiglottis and closes the glottis
What is the function of the lateral cricoarytenoid?
ADduction of the vocal cords
What is the function of the thyroarytenoid muscle?
These are the “false cords” that influence tension of the cords
Also includes the vocalis mm
Also includes thyroepiglottic portion which pulls the epiglottis toward the thyroid, opening the glottis
What is the function of the cricothyroid mm?
They tilt the thyroid cartilage forward, which increases tension on the vocal cords
List all the extrinsic muscles that elevate the larynx
stylohyoid
digastric
mylohyoid
geniohyoid
stylopharyngeus
thyrohyoid
List all the extrinsic muscles that depress the larynx
omohyoid
sternohyoid
sternothyroid
