H&N 11: The Larynx Flashcards
What are the functions of the larynx?
Involved in phonation, ventilation, cough reflex, protection of the lower respiratory tract, swallowing
Which ligament attaches the epiglottis to the thyroid cartilage posteriorly?
The thyroepiglottic ligament
How does the epiglottis move during swallowing?
Epiglottis is pulled down towards arytenoid cartilages to close off the larynx and prevent aspiration.
Food bolus is directed lateral to the epiglottis into the piriform fossa.
Where do the superior horn and inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage articulate to?
Superior horn articulates to hyoid bone
Inferior horn articulates to cricoid cartilage
What shape is the cricoid cartilage?
Signet ring shaped (narrow anteriorly and broad posteriorly)
At what spinal level is the inferior border of the larynx?
C6
What do the vocal cords attach to?
Attach to the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage anteriorly (fixed point), and arytenoids posteriorly (movable)
What muscles move the vocal cords?
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ABduct and ADduct)
What attaches to the arytenoids?
The vocal cords and internal laryngeal muscles
Which membranes are involved in the attachment of the thyroid cartilage superiorly and inferiorly?
Thyroid cartilage is attached to hyoid bone superiorly by thyrohyoid membrane
And attached to cricoid cartilage inferiorly by the cricothyroid membrane
What membrane is pierced in a cricothyrotomy?
The cricothyroid membrane
Emergency procedure so the patient can breathe if there is an obstruction at/ above the larynx and intubation is unsuccessful
What are the true and false vocal cords?
Vocal folds = true vocal cords
Vestibular folds = false vocal cords
How are the vocal cords positioned in respiration, phonation and during swallowing?
Respiration: ABducted
Phonation: partially ABducted
Swallowing: ADDucted
What is the innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
All innervated with the inferior laryngeal nerve (branch of recurrent laryngeal nerve) EXCEPT cricothyroid
(Posterior cricothyroid is the only muscle to ABduct, all the the rest ADduct)
Where is the supraglottis?
From the inferior surface of the epiglottis to the false vocal cords