Anatomy of the Larynx (not finished)

Question 1

What defines the larynx?

What vertebral levels does the larynx lie over?

Answer 1

part of the respiratory tract between the pharynx and trachea
C3-C6

Question 2

What connects the hyoid bone to the larynx?

Answer 2

The thyrohyoid ligaments

Question 3

What the extrinsic muscles of the larynx? What do they do?

Answer 3

Suprahyoids elevate larynx

Infrahyoids depress larynx

Question 4

What are the 5/6 intrinsic muscles of the larynx? What do they do?
What are they innervated by?

Answer 4

• cricothyroid: tenses vocal ligament
• thyroarythenoid: relaxes vocal ligament
• posterior cricoarytenoid: abducts vocal folds
• lateral cricoarytenoid: adducts vocal folds
• transverse and oblique arytenoids: adducts the arytenoid cartilages
  All invervated by inferior laryngeal nerve, except for cricothyroid which is innervated by external laryngeal nerve

Question 5

The larynx is divided into 3 compartments by two interior folds. What are these?

Answer 5

Vestibule
- vestibular folds (false vocal cords)
Ventricular space 
- vocal folds (true vocal cords)
Subglottic space

Question 6

What groups of muscles are involved in the movement of the larynx?

Answer 6

intrinsic muscles - move cartilages relative to one another
pharyngeal muscles - attach to laryngeal cartilages
strap muscles to control position of larynx

Question 7

What is the innervation of the larynx?

Answer 7

vagus for both motor and sensory

Question 8

What are the 9 cartilages of the larynx?

Answer 8

3 unpaired
- epiglottis
- thyroid
- cricoid
3 paired
- arytenoid
- corniculate
- cuneiform

Question 9

Where is the thyroid cartilage located?
What are the membranes associated with it?
What is its joint?

Answer 9

superior border at C4
thyrohyoid membrane - median/lateral thyroid ligaments
cricothyroid joint - inferior horns articulate with cricoid cartilage

Question 10

What vertebral level is the cricoid cartilage at?

What two structures is it attached to and how?

Answer 10

C6
thyroid cartilage superiorly - medican cricothyroid ligament
first tracheal ring inferiorly - cricotracheal ligament