Anatomy of larynx

Question 1

What is the larynx basically?

Answer 1

Tube created by membranes, cartilages and muscles

Question 2

How does the larynx relate to the hyoid bone?

Answer 2

It lies below the hyoid bone

Question 3

Where does the larynx begin?

Answer 3

Laryngeal inlet

Question 4

Where does the larynx end?

Answer 4

Lower border of cricoid cartilage

C6 vertebral level

Question 5

What is the continuation of the larynx?

Answer 5

Trachea

Question 6

How many important cartilages of the larynx are there? What are the different groups?

Answer 6

Three single cartilages

One paired cartilage

Question 7

What are the three single cartilages of the larynx?

Answer 7

Thyroid cartilage

Cricoid cartilage

Epiglottis

Question 8

What is the paired cartilage of the larynx?

Answer 8

Aretynoid cartilages

Question 9

What are the parts of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 9

Lateral plates

Laryngeal prominence

Inferior horn

Question 10

What is the laryngeal prominence?

Answer 10

Where the two lateral plates of the thyroid cartilag meet in the anterior midline

Question 11

What is the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage commonly known as?

Answer 11

Adam’s apple

Question 12

What is the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 12

Postero-inferior projection

Question 13

What does the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage do?

Answer 13

Articulates with the cricoid cartilage

Question 14

What is the signifiance of the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage articulating with the cricoid cartilage in a synovial joint?

Answer 14

Thyroid cartilage can move on cricoid cartilage

Question 15

What is different about the cricoid cartilage compared to other cartilages of the larynx and trachea?

Answer 15

Forms a complete ring

others are incomplete

Question 16

What type of joint connects the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage to the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 16

Synovial joint

Question 17

What is the shape of the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 17

Wider and flatter at the back

than at the front

Question 18

What shape is the epiglottis?

Answer 18

Leaf-shaped

Question 19

What is the relative position of the aretynoid cartilages in the larynx?

Answer 19

Posteriorly

Superior to cricoid cartilage on either side

Question 20

What do the aretynoid cartilages attach to?

Answer 20

The cricoid cartilage on either side

Question 21

How do the aretynoid cartilages attach to the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 21

Synovial joints

Question 22

What does the epiglottis attach to?

Answer 22

Postero-superior surface of thyroid cartilage inferiorly

Body of hyoid bone superiorly

Question 23

How many membranes of the larynx are there?

Answer 23

Four

Question 24

What are the membranes of the larynx?

Answer 24

Thyro-hyoid membrane

Crico-thyroid membrane

Crico-tracheal membrane

Quadrangular membrane

Question 25

What does the thyro-hyoid membrane attach to?

Answer 25

Superiorly the hyoid bone Inferiorly the thyroid cartilage

Question 26

What does the crico-thyroid membrane attach to?

Answer 26

Superiorly the thyroid cartilage Inferiorly the cricoid cartilage

Question 27

What does the crico-tracheal membrane attach to?

Answer 27

Superiorly the cricoid cartilage Inferiorly the first ring of cartilage of the trachea

Question 28

What is the clinical signifiance of the cricothyroid membrane?

Answer 28

Cricothyroidotomy

Question 29

When is a cricothyroidotomy done?

Answer 29

Patient cannot breathe | cannot be intubated or ventilated

Question 30

How is a cricothyroidotomy done?

Answer 30

Palpate for the cricothyroid membrane | make an incision into it

Question 31

What does the quadrangular membrane attach to?

Answer 31

Sides of epiglottis superiorly Posterior surface of thyroid cartilage antero-inferiorly Aretynoid cartilages postero-inferiorly

Question 32

What is the free superior border of the quadrangular membrane called?

Answer 32

Aryepiglottic fold

Question 33

How does the free superior border of the quadrangular membrane form the aryepiglottic fold?

Answer 33

Thickens at this point

Question 34

What is the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 34

Opening into the larynx

Question 35

What forms the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 35

The aryepiglottic folds

Question 36

What is the free inferior border of the quadrangular membrane called?

Answer 36

The vestibular ligament/false vocal cord

Question 37

How does the free inferior border of the quadrangular membrane frorm the vestibular ligament/false vocal cord?

Answer 37

Thickens at this point

Question 38

What is the free superior border of the crico-thyroid membrane called?

Answer 38

The vocal ligament/true vocal cord

Question 39

How does the free superior border of the crico-thyroid membrane form the vocal ligament/true vocal cord?

Answer 39

Thickens at this point

Question 40

What lines the surface of the larynx?

Answer 40

Mucous membrane

Question 41

What are the three areas of the larynx?

Answer 41

Supraglottis Glottis Infraglottis

Question 42

What is the supraglottis?

Answer 42

Area of the larynx above the vestibular ligament/false vocal cords

Question 43

What is the glottis?

Answer 43

Area of the larnx that contains the vestibular ligament/false vocal cords and the vocal ligament/true vocal cords

Question 44

What is the infraglottis?

Answer 44

Area of the larynx below the vocal ligament/true vocal cords

Question 45

What is located between the vestibular ligament/false vocal cords and the vocal ligament/true vocal cords?

Answer 45

Ventricle posteriorly Saccule anteriorly

Question 46

What are the ventrcle and saccule?

Answer 46

Recesses between the vestibular ligament/false vocal cords and the vocal ligament/true vocal cords

Question 47

What is the function of the ventricle and saccula?

Answer 47

Contain mucous glands produce mucus keep larynx mois

Question 48

What type of epithelium lines the larynx?

Answer 48

Respiratory epithelium - psueodostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Question 49

What is the exception to psueodostratified ciliated columnar epithelium lining the respiratory tract?

Answer 49

Vocal ligament/true vocal cords is lined with stratified squamous epithelium

Question 50

Why are the vocal ligaments/true vocal cords lined with stratified squamous epithelium?

Answer 50

To protect against of abrasion of air moving into and out of larynx

Question 51

What is the rima glottidis?

Answer 51

The opening between the vocal ligaments/true vocal cords

Question 52

How can you tell the orientation of a view of the larynx?

Answer 52

Point of rima glottidis is anterior

Question 53

How can the larynx be viewed?

Answer 53

Laryngoscope Nasoendoscopy

Question 54

When is a laryngoscope used to view the larynx?

Answer 54

Intubation - placing a tube in the infraglottis

Question 55

When is a nasoendoscope used to view the larynx?

Answer 55

To visualise the larynx

Question 56

What body system is the larynx a part of?

Answer 56

Respiratory system

Question 58

What are the functions of the larynx? Which is its main function?

Answer 58

Ventilation - air in and out of lungs Airway protection - preventing aspiration - main function Cough Phonation - producing sound