Anatomy of the larynx

Question 1

Because it supplies all other intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the ________, the ______ nerve is the major motor nerve of the larynx.

Answer 1

cricothyroid; recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 2

The ______ branch of the _______ nerve innervates the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer 2

external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

“ME IS”

Question 3

The ______ branch of the _______ is the primary sensory nerve of the larynx.

Answer 3

internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Question 4

The ________ nerve supplies laryngeal tissue from the vocal cords up, including the vocal cords….. The ______ nerve supplies the sensory innervation to laryngeal mucosa inferior to the vocal cords.

Answer 4

internal branch of the SLN; RLN

Question 5

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle: posterior cricoarytenoids

Answer 5

ABDUCT vocal cords (“dilates” cords)

Question 6

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

lateral cricoarytenoids

Answer 6

ADDUCT vocal cords

Question 7

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

transverse arytenoid

Answer 7

close rima glottidis

Question 8

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

oblique arytenoid

Answer 8

controls sphincters to vestibule; decreases volume of the larynx (narrows the inlet)

Question 9

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

aryepiglottics (continuations of the oblique arytenoids)

Answer 9

controls sphincters to vestibule (narrows the inlet)

Question 10

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

thyroepiglottics (continuations of the thyroarytenoids)

Answer 10

controls sphincters to vestibule (widens the inlet)

Question 11

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

cricothyroids

Answer 11

increase vocal cord tension (tenses the cords)

Question 12

Name the function of the following laryngeal muscle:

thyroarytenoids

Answer 12

reduce cord tension (relax the cords)

Question 13

Cricoarytenoids (whether posterior or lateral)… ________ the cords. Cricothyroids and thyroarytenoids ______ and ____ the cords, respectively.

Answer 13

posterior cricoarytenoids “pull from behind” and abduct
lateral cricoarytenoids “push from the side” to adduct
cricothyroids TENSE (tension)
thyroarytenoids RELAX (tension)

Question 14

What happens when there is damage to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve?

Answer 14

well… external SLN is MOTOR to the cricothyroid ONLY… so the cricothyroid muscle is paralyzed–> the cricothyroid muscle normally tenses the cords… so the cords cannot be tensed–> weakness and huskiness of the voice

Question 15

If one cord is flaccid and in an intermediate position after a subtotal thyroidectomy, there is ______ RLN paralysis and ______ results.

Answer 15

unilateral; hoarseness

Question 16

If both cords are flaccid and each assumes an intermediate position after subtotal thyroidectomy, there is _______ RLN paralysis and _______ and ________ results.

Answer 16

bilateral; aphonia (lost speech); airway obstruction

Question 17

_______ after thyroidectomy may result from either hypocalcemia (tensed cords d\t tetany) or bilateral RLN damage.

Answer 17

stridor