clinical anatomy of the larynx Flashcards
what is the upper airway?
from the nasal cavity to the up to the larynx
what is the lower airway?
everything beyond the trachea
what are the 3 parts of the pharynx?
nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx
what is the most superior part of the respiratory tract?
nasal cavity
what type of organ is the nasal cavity?
dual olfactory and respiratory organ
what are the functions of the nasal cavity?
- Warms and humidifies inspired air
- Removes and traps pathogens from inspired air
- Sense of smell
- Drains paranasal sinuses and lacrimal ducts
where does the nasal cavity extend?
nostril to nasopharynx
what are the 3 parts of the nasal cavity?
- vestibule - area around the nostrils to the nasal cavity
- respiratory region
- olfactory region - found at the apex of the nasal cavity
what lines the respiratory region of the nasal cavity?
ciliated pseudostratified epithelium + goblet cells
what is the function of the respiratory region of the nasal cavity?
responsible for trapping pathogens and particulates within inspired air
what is the function of the olfactory region of the nasal cavity?
sense of smell
describe the innervation of the nose
- olfactory region is lined by olfactory cells with olfactory receptors
- olfactor nerves run through cribiform plate to provide special sensory innervation to the nose.
where is the oral cavity found?
spans between the oral fissure anteriorly and the opening of the oropharynx posteriorly
what are the 2 major divisions of the oral cavity?
vestibule
oral cavity proper
what is the vestibule of the oral cavity?
space between the lips/cheeks and the gums/teeth
where is the oral cavity proper? what are its borders?
Roof - anterior hard palate and posterior soft palate
Floor
Cheeks (buccinator muscle)
what separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity?
hard palate
what covers the hard palate superiorly and inferiorly?
superiorly - pseudostratified columnar epithelium
inferiorly - oral mucosa (stratified squamous epithelium)
what is the soft palate?
muscular (not bony) continuation of the hard palate posteriorly
describe the structure of the cheeks
made up of the buccinator muscle
lined internally by the oral mucous membrane
what supplies the sensory innervation of the oral cavity?
branches of the trigeminal nerve
what are the functions of the oral cavity?
digestion
communication
breathing
what is the bony skeleton of the oral cavity made up of?
maxilla and mandible - house the upper and lower teeth
what is the pharynx?
Muscular tube connecting oral and nasal cavities to the trachea and oesophagus
what controls the shape of the pharynx and the propulsion of food into the oesophagus
controlled by 2 sets of pharyngeal muscles - circular and longitudinal
where is the nasopharynx?
found between the base of the skull and the soft palate.
continuous with the nasal cavity
what is the function of the nasopharynx?
respiratory function performed by conditioning inspired air and propagating it into the larynx
what lines the nasopharynx?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells
where is the oropharynx?
located between the soft palate and the superior border of the epiglottis
what structures does the oropharynx contain?
- posterior 1/3 of the tongue
- lingual tonsils
- palatine tonsils
- superior constrictor muscle
where is the laryngopharynx?
located between the epiglottis and the inferior border of the circoid cartilage (C6)
continues inferiorly with the oesophagus
how many cartilages is the larynx made of?
9
what spinal level is the larynx found at?
C3-C6
what does the larynx connect to superiorly and inferiorly?
hyoid bone superiorly
trachea inferiorly
what happens to the male larynx after puberty?
enlarges with the saggital diameter and nearly doubles
all the cartilages increase in both size and weight
what are the 3 unpaired cartilages of the larynx?
epiglottis
thyroid
cricoid
where are the 3 paired cartilages of the larynx?
arytenoid
corniculate
cuneiform
what spinal level is the hyoid at?
C3
what is the function of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles?
act to move the components of the larynx for phonation and breathing