Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Gross Anatomy > Exam 4 Larynx > Flashcards

Exam 4 Larynx Flashcards

1
Q

Larynx

  • Where is it located?
  • Function?
  • Structure
A
  • Extends from lower part of pharynx to trachea; suspended by hyoid bone
  • Acts as a compound sphincter to prevent passage of food or drink into airway during swallowing
  • Regulates flow of air to and from lungs during phonation
  • Cartilage skeleton made up of 9 cartilages:
    • 3 paired: Arytenoid, Corniculate, Cuneiform
    • 3 unpaired: Thyroid, Cricoid, Epiglottis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Thyroid cartilage

  • Where is it located?
  • Structure?
  • What muscles are attached to it?
A
  • Below hyoid, joined by broad, thin thyrohyoid membrane
  • Structure:
    • Two flat laminae join anteriorly to form laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple)
    • Incomplete posteriorly
    • Superior and inferior horns off posterior margin; inferior horns articulate with cricoid cartilage
  • Oblique line attachment pt for: Sternothyroid, Thyrohyoid, and Inferior constrictor muscles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cricoid cartilage

  • Where is it located?
  • Structure
  • What is it the border between?
A
  • Anchored to thyroid cartilage at cricothyroid joints by thick cricothyroid ligament
  • Structure:
    • Narrow anterior arch
    • High posterior lamina
    • Superior articular facets for arytenoid cartilages
  • Inferior margin of larynx and superior margin of trachea

ONLY COMPLETE RING IN AIRWAY

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Epiglottis

  • Where is it located?
  • Structure
  • Function
A
  • Located behind root of tongue; lower end is attached to back of thyroid cartilage
  • Spoon-shaped plate made of elastic cartilage
  • During swallowing, closes over larynx to prevent food and drink from entering airway
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Arytenoid cartilage

  • Where is it located?
  • Structure (What muscles attach here?)
  • Function?
A
  • Located above cricoid cartilage
  • Structure:
    • Pyramid shaped
    • Anterior vocal processes: Attachment for vocal ligament and vocalis muscle
    • Muscular processes: Attachment for thyroarytenoid, lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
  • Function: Swivels when muscles contract to modify size/shape of airway opening to control phonation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Corniculate cartilages

  • Where are they located?
A
  • Positioned on top of arytenoid cartilages
  • Enclosed within aryepiglottic folds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Cuneiform cartilages

  • Where are they located?
A
  • Enclosed in aryepiglottic folds anterior to corniculate cartilages
  • DO NOT articulate with other laryngeal cartilages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Ligaments of larynx

  • What are they?
  • What do they connect?
  • Parts (if applicable)
A
  • Thyrohyoid membrane
    • Extends from thyroid cartilage to medial surface of hyoid bone
    • Thick middle portion = middle thyrohyoid ligament
  • Cricothyroid ligament
    • Extends from arch of cricoid cartilage to thyroid cartilage, as well as vocal process of arytenoid cartilages
  • Vocal ligament
    • Extends from posterior surface of thyroid cartilage to vocal process of arytenoid cartilage
    • Upper border of conus elasticus
  • Vestibular (ventricular) ligament
    • Extends from thyroid cartilage to anterior lateral surface of arytenoid cartilage
  • Conus elasticus (cricovocal ligament)
    • Extends upward from entire arch of cricoid cartilage to vocal ligaments
    • Formed by cricothyroid, median cricothyroid, and vocal ligaments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Cavities and folds of larynx

  • What are they?
  • Where are they located?
A
  • Vestibule of larynx
    • Extends from laryngeal inlet to vestibular folds
  • Ventricles of larynx
    • Extend between ventricular fold and vocal fold
  • Rima glottidis
    • Space between vocal folds and arytenoid cartilages
    • Narrowest portion of laryngeal cavity
  • Infraglottic cavity
    • Extends from rima glottidis to lower body of cricoid cartilge
  • Vestibular folds (false vocal cords)
    • Extend from thyroid cartilage to vocal ligament of arytenoid cartilage
  • Vocal folds (true vocal cords)
    • Extend from angle of thyroid cartilage to vocal processes of arytenoid cartilages
    • Contain vocal ligament and vocalis muscle
    • Alter shape of rima glottidis by movement of arytenoids to facilitate phonation and respiration (the rima glottidis is wide during inspiration and narrow during expiration and sound production)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Muscles of Larynx

What is the general function of the muscles?

  • Extrinsic
  • Intrinsic
A
  • Extrinsic: Suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles
    • Act to elevate or depress larynx during swallowing
  • Intrinsic: Act within larynx to manipulate ariway and vocal ligaments by moving arytenoid cartilages or cricothyroid joints
    • All are innervated by branches of CN X, mainly recurrent laryngeal nerve
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cricothyroid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Arch of cricoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Inferior horn and lower lamina of thryoid cartilage
  • Action: Tenses vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via external laryngeal branch of superior laryngeal nerve)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Vocalis muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Angle between two laminae of thyroid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Vocal processes of arytenoid cartilages
  • Action: Relaxes and adducts vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of lamina of cricoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Muscular process of arytenoid cartilage
  • Action: Abducts vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Arch of cricoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Muscular process of arytenoid cartilages
  • Action: Adducts vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Transverse arytenoid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of arytenoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Opposite arytenoid cartilage
  • Action: Adducts vocal cords (closes laryngeal inlet)
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Oblique arytenoid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Muscular process of arytenoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Apex of opposite arytenoid cartilage
  • Action: Adducts vocal cords (closes laryngeal inlet)
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
17
Q

Aryepiglottic muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Apex of arytenoid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Side of epiglottic cartilage
  • Action: Adducts vocal cords (weak), pulls epiglottis down to close laryngeal inlet during swallowing
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
18
Q

Thyroarytenoid muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Inner surface of thyroid lamina
  • Distal Attachment: Anterolateral surface of arytenoid cartilage
  • Action: Adducts and relaxes vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
19
Q

Thyroepiglottic muscle

  • Proximal Attachment
  • Distal Attachment
  • Action
  • Innervation
A
  • Proximal Attachment: Anteromedial surface of lamina of thyroid cartilage
  • Distal Attachment: Lateral margin of epiglottic cartilage
  • Action: Adducts vocal cords
  • Innervation: CN X (via recurrent laryngeal nerve)
20
Q

Blood supply of larynx

  • Arterial supply
  • Venous drainage
A
  • Most blood comes from Superior laryngeal artery (External carotid -> Superior thyroid a -> Superior laryngeal a)
    • Accompanies superior laryngeal n and enters larynx through thyrohyoid membrane
  • Blood also received from Inferior laryngeal artery (Subclavian artery -> Thyrocervical trunk -> Inferior thyroid artery -> Inferior laryngeal artery)
    • Accompanies recurrent laryngeal nerve into larynx
  • Venous drainage: Superior and inferior laryngeal veins
    • Run with arteries of same name
21
Q

Innervation of Larynx

  • What are the nerves?
  • What is their function?
A
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve
    • Innervates all intrinsic muscles of larynx EXCEPT cricothyroid
    • Sensory innervation below vocal cord
  • Internal laryngeal nerve
    • Supplies sensory innervation to mucous membrane above vocal cord
    • Runs with superior laryngeal artery
  • External laryngeal nerve
    • Innervates cricothyroid and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles
    • Accompanied by superior thyroid artery
22
Q

Laryngeal obstruction (choking)

  • What causes it?
  • How is it resolved?
A
  • Caused by aspirated foods becoming lodged at rima glottidis
  • Heimlich maneuver resolves it by causing rapid burst of air through larynx to dislodge obstruction
23
Q

Laryngitis

  • What is it?
  • Symptoms?
A
  • Inflammation of mucous membrane of larynx
  • Symptoms:
    • Dryness/soreness of throat
    • Hoarseness
    • Cough
    • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
24
Q

Lesion of recurrent laryngeal nerve

  • What causes it?
  • Symptoms
A
  • Can be caused by thyroidectomy or cricothyrotomy or rarely by aortic aneurysm
  • Symptoms
    • Unilateral: Hoarseness, loss of cough, dysphagia
    • Bilateral: Breathlessness, loss of voice

Gross Anatomy (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions