Anatomy - Larynx

Question 1

fascial compartment in which the larynx is found

Answer 1

pretracheal

Question 2

contents of pretracheal fascia

Answer 2

strap muscles
thyroid gland 
trachea and larynx 
oesophagus and pharynx 
recurrent laryngeal nerves

Question 3

which layer of the pretracheal fascia is the larynx in

Answer 3

visceral

Question 4

function of strap muscles

Answer 4

accessory muscles of breathing

Question 5

superior border of thyroid cartilage

Answer 5

C4/C5

Question 6

level of cricoid cartilage

Answer 6

C6

Question 7

1st palpable vertebrae & marker of inferior extent of neck

Answer 7

C7

Question 8

marker of superior extent of back

Answer 8

T1

Question 9

level which larynx becomes trachea and pharynx becomes oesophagus

Answer 9

C6

Question 10

what bone is the larynx suspended from

Answer 10

hyoid

Question 11

why is the epiglottis an elastic cartilage

Answer 11

needs to be flexible

Question 12

v shape in thyroid cartilage

Answer 12

laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple)

Question 13

features of cricoid cartilage

Answer 13

narrow front, wide flat back

only cartilage to make a complete ring around the larynx

Question 14

why is cricothyroid membrane chosen for puncture

Answer 14

avoids damaging vocal cords and is relatively avascular

Question 15

joint which allows movement between thyroid and cricoid cartilages

Answer 15

capsule of cricothyroid joint - synovial

Question 16

location of corniculate cartilage

Answer 16

apex of arytenoid cartilages

Question 17

front process of arytenoid cartilage

Answer 17

vocal process - where cords attach, how they move

Question 18

back process of arytenoid cartilage

Answer 18

muscular process

Question 19

what is cricoid pressure and when is it used

Answer 19

pressing on the cricoid cartilage, thus compressing the oesophagus
as you are pressing on an area that is a complete ring, air still gets in, and thus this can be done in ventilation to prevent stomach contents coming up

Question 20

attachments of vocal folds

Answer 20

thyroid cartilage and vocal processes of arytenoid cartilages

Question 21

function of cuneiform and corniculate cartilages

Answer 21

support the laryngeal inlet but play no part in vocal cord movement

Question 22

space between vocal cords

Answer 22

rima glottidis

Question 23

what is the vallecula

Answer 23

space between posterior surface of tongue and epiglottis

Question 24

mucosa of larynx

Answer 24

mainly respiratory epithelium

Question 25

mucosa of vocal cords

Answer 25

stratified squamous epithelium

Question 26

false vocal cords

Answer 26

vestibular folds - just folds of mucosa

Question 27

space in between false and true vocal cords

Answer 27

ventricle

Question 28

laryngeal mucosa sensory innervation

Answer 28

vagus

Question 29

what are vocal fols

Answer 29

mucosa covering the vocal cords

Question 30

innervation superior to the vocal fold

Answer 30

superior laryngeal branches of CN X

Question 31

innervation to vocal fold and inferior

Answer 31

recurrent laryngeal branches of CN X

Question 32

what is the inferior laryngeal branch of CN X

Answer 32

just a continuation of the recurrent laryngeal branch

Question 33

what does the recurrent laryngeal nerve loop under on the RHS

Answer 33

subclavian artery

Question 34

function of intrinsic muscles of larynx

Answer 34

move the cartilages which move the vocal cords | adduct the vocal cords during the cough reflex

Question 35

function of the cricothyroid muscles

Answer 35

tense the vocal cords

Question 36

if the vocal cords are tense, what pitch of voice will you have

Answer 36

high

Question 37

function of thyro-arytenoid muscles

Answer 37

relax the vocal cords | pull the arytenoid cartilages towards the thyroid cartilage

Question 38

function of lateral crico-arytenoid muscles

Answer 38

adduct the vocal cords | rotate the arytenoid cartilages so that the vocal processes of the cartilages come together in the midline

Question 39

function of arytenoid muscles

Answer 39

transverse and oblique arytenoids adduct the vocal cords assist arytenoid cartilages to fently close the rima glottidis also have a sphincter function

Question 40

function of posterior crico-arytenoid muscles

Answer 40

abduct the vocal cords rotate the arytenoid cartilages so that the vocal processes of the cartilage move laterally widens the rima glottidis (only muscle that does this)

Question 41

rima glottidis during normal respiration

Answer 41

larygeal muscles relaxed

Question 42

rima glottidis during forced respiration

Answer 42

posterior crico-arytenoids contract

Question 43

rima glottidis during phonation

Answer 43

arytenoids contract | assist lateral crico-arytenoids

Question 44

rima glottidis during whispering

Answer 44

lateral crico-arytenoids contract

Question 45

what happens in phonation

Answer 45

expire a stream of air across the vocal cords | length/tension of cords determines pitch

Question 46

what is articulation

Answer 46

production of a recognisable sound in the oral or nasal cavities

Question 47

what happens in oral articulation

Answer 47

soft palate tenses (CN V3) and elevates (CN X) to close off entrance to nasopharynx directs stream of air through oral cavity sound interrupted by tongue (CN XII) and teeth/lips (CN VII) to produce most vowels and consonants

Question 48

what happens in nasal articulation

Answer 48

soft palate tenses (CN V3) and descends (CN X) to close off entrance to oropharynx directs stream of air through nasal cavities produces one of three sounds - m/n/ing depending on position of tongue (CN XII), teeth and lips (CN VII)

Question 49

how to clinically test the vagus nerve

Answer 49

ask patient to swallow sip of water - watch larynx move, swallow or cough reflex could be damaged if spluttering listen to patient speak - hoarseness, intrinsic muscles moving cords normally ask patient to cough - also requires functioning diaphragm, phrenic nerves, abdo wall etc.