Exam 3 Flashcards
what part of the upper-respiratory system is the means by which air is converted into sound?
larynx
where are the vocal folds housed?
the larynx
the laryngeal skeleton is made up of what?
1 bone (hyoid) and 9 cartilages (3 paired and 3 unpaired)
what are the 3 unpaired cartilages?
thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis
from top to bottom what is the order in the human body of the hyoid bone, the epiglottis, the cricoid cartilage, and thyroid cartilage?
epiglottis, hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage (large), cricoid cartilage (smaller)
what is bone?
highly vascularized (many blood vessels), and its calcified matrix makes it very strong
what is cartilage?
thin, avascular, flexible and resistant to compressive forces (found near joints, in the nose, and ears)
what is a ligament?
tough fibrous band of tissue connecting bones or supporting an organ in place
what is a membrane?
flexible, thin tissues typically for boundaries
what is the hyoid bone?
U-shaped bone that forms the attachment of the tongue - NOT attached to any other bone
the thyrohyoid membrane and ligament do what?
connects the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone - suspends the rest of the larynx from the hyoid bone
what is thyroid cartilage?
largest, unpaired cartilage of the larynx, formed by two laminae (plates) that are fused at the front which forms the Adam’s apple
what is the difference between the inferior and superior horns of the thyroid cartilage?
the inferior extend downwards (towards cricoid cartilage) and are smaller, the superior are longer and extend upwards
what is the cricoid cartilage?
a ring of cartilage just above the first ring of the trachea, the bigger part is in the back
what is the epiglottis?
leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food from entering the windpipe and the lungs
what is unique about newborn’s epiglottis?
it is more curved allowing them to suck and breathe at the same time
what are the arytenoid cartilages?
small, pyramid-shaped structures on the superior surface of the cricoid cartilage, they are attached to the vocal folds - hidden behind the thyroid cartilage
where are the vocal chords?
within the arytenoid cartilages and the thyroid cartilage
what are the corniculate cartilages?
located at the apex of the arytenoids but may not be present in all individuals, small and appears not important in voice production
what are the cuneiform cartilages?
two small, elongated pieces of yellow elastic cartilage, placed on either side, in the aryepiglottic folds (may function to stiffen these folds)
what are the cricoarytenoid joints? what does it do?
between the cricoid and paired arytenoid cartilages in the back wall of the larynx - it adjusts the positioning/opening/closing of the vocal folds
what are the cricothyroid joints? what do they do?
connect the cricoid cartilage and the thyroid cartilage - plays a key role in adjusting human voice pitch by changing tension in the vocal chords
what makes up the wall of the larynx?
cartilages, ligaments, membranes, muscles, and mucosa (or mucous membrane)
what is inside the larynx?
a hollow tube, with three sets of valves (folds) that open and close to perform various functions including breath and speech
what are the three folds in the larynx?
aryepiglottic folds, false vocal folds, true vocal folds
what are the aryepiglottic folds?
triangular mucosa folds, the most superior folds, from the side of the epiglottis to the apex of each arytenoid cartilage - pulls the epiglottis backward and to close the entrance of the larynx during swallowing - phonation (growling)
what are the false vocal folds?
inferior to the aryepiglottic folds and just superior and parallel to true vocal folds, not very muscular structures and are only capable of limited movement - help lubricate the true vocal folds, close during swallowing, normally open during phonation
what are the true vocal folds?
most complex and important laryngeal valve - vibration of these folds primarily produce voice
what are the three layers of the true vocal folds?
layer of epithelium covering the mucosa, lamina propia, vocalis muscle
what is the glottis?
the space between the vocal cords, when they vibrate results in “buzzing”
the larynx muscles are divided into what two groups?
intrinsic and extrinsic
where are the extrinsic muscles attached?
one point attached within the larynx and the other outside of the larynx
where are the intrinsic muscles attached?
both points attached within the larynx
what do the extrinsic muscles of the larynx do?
support the position of the larynx
what are the suprahyoid muscles (SH)?
extrinsic - contracts to pull the larynx upward in the neck, has its point of attachment above the hyoid bone
what are the infrahyoid muscles (IH)?
extrinsic - contract to pull the larynx down, have their external point of attachment below the hyoid bone
what is the sternohyoid muscle?
infrahyoid - connects the hyoid bone with the clavicle and the sternum
what makes up the superficial plane of infrahyoid muscles?
omohyoid muscle and sternohyoid
what do the intrinsic muscles do?
responsible for controlling sound production (voicing)
what are the 5 major intrinsic muscles?
- posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) - only abductor (opener)
- lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA)
- arytenoid muscles (IA)
- cricothyroid (CT)
- thyroarytenoid (TA)
what does the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) do?
major respiratory muscle of the larynx, the only opener (rotates the arytenoid cartilages laterally), large, fan-shaped
what do the lateral cricoarytenoids (LCA) do?
brings the vocal folds together (adductor), changing tension and length of vocal folds, bilateral