Head and Neck 4 Flashcards
What is the larynx?
Tube lined by mucous membrane
Closed in front
Open in back
Skeleton is cartilage
Which levels does the larynx run?
C3-C6
C3
Hyoid level
C6
Cricoid cartilage level
What is the closed cartilage of the larynx called and what level is it found?
Cricoid cartilage
C6
Name the cartilages of the larynx.
Thyroid (biggest, C4 to C5)
2 arytenoids (triangular shaped ontop of cricoid), corniculate ontop of arytenoid
Epiglottis
Cricoid
What happens at C6 level?
Larynx changes into trachea
Pharynx changes into oesophagus
What is the quadrate/quadrangular membrane?
Thin submucosal sheet of connective tissue
Extends from arytenoid cartilage to epiglottic cartilage
Name the 2 folds of the quadrangular membrane.
Aryepiglottic fold (superior) Vestibular ligament covered by mucous membrane to form vestibular fold (inferior) = false vocal cords
What does the aryepiglottic fold surround?
Inlet of larynx (aditus of larynx)
What is the name of the vocal membrane?
Cricothyroid membrane
Explain the location of the cricothyroid membrane.
Extends from the cricoid cartilage to thyroid/arytenoid cartilages
What forms the vocal ligament?
Upper free edge that extends from the thyroid cartilage (close to midline) backwards to vocal process of arytenoid cartilage forms the vocal ligament
What is the vocal fold/cord formed of?
Cricothyroid membrane covered by mucous membrane
What is the skeleton of the vocal cord?
Cricothyroid membrane
What is the rima glottidis?
Gap between the two vocal folds (vocal cord)
Inlet/aditus
Space between aryepiglottic folds
Vestibule
Space below inlet as far as vestibular folds
Ventricle
Space between vestibular and vocal folds, indents laterally
Saccule
Small pouch of mucous membrane between vestibular folds and laryngeal lamina
Rima glottis
Space between vocal folds
Piriform Recess
Space between quadrangular membrane and lamina of thyroid cartilage
What is contained within the piriform fossa?
Internal laryngeal nerve
Superior laryngeal vessels
Where does the cricothyroid muscle run?
From anterolateral part of cricoid cartilage to inferior aspect of thyroid cartilage
What is the innervation of the cricothyroid muscle and how does this differ from the other muscles?
Innervated by external laryngeal nerve
All other muscles = recurrent laryngeal nerve
What is the action of the cricothyroid muscle?
Tenses and stretches vocal fold
Where is the thyroarytenoid muscle?
From posterior surface of thyroid cartilage
Insertion into muscular process of arytenoid cartilage
What is the action of the thyroarytenoid muscle?
Relaxes vocal fold
Location and action of lateral crico-arytenoid muscles.
From arch of cricoid cartilage to muscular process of arytenoid cartilage
Adducts vocal fold
Where does the transverse arytenoid run and what is its function?
Runs between arytenoid - adducts arytenoids (pulls them together)
Where does the oblique arytenoid run and what is its function?
Runs superficial to transverse arytenoid
Runs from muscular process of one arytenoid to the apex of the other (cross over)
Aids in adduction - draw arytenoids closer together