Human Laryngeal Anatomy

Question 1

Structure of Laryngeal System

Answer 1

inter-related series of muscles, ligaments, cartilages, joints, and 1 bone (hyoid bone)

Question 2

Primary Biological Function

Answer 2

to rapidly and securely protect airflow into trachea

Question 3

Secondary Biological Function

Answer 3

vocalization and sound source production center

Question 4

Unpaired Cartilages

Answer 4

thyroid, epiglottis, and cricoid

Question 5

Paired Cartilages

Answer 5

corniculate, arytenoids, cuneform

Question 6

Hyoid Bone

Answer 6

U-shaped bone suspended in upper neck

forms upper framework of laryngeal system

Question 7

How many wings does the thyroid cartilage have?

Answer 7

2 wings, including upper and lower horns

Question 8

In which direction does the thyroid open?

Answer 8

posteriorly

Question 9

Which other cartilage does the thyroid articulate with?

Answer 9

the cricoid cartilage

Question 10

What’s the name of the joint that is formed by the cricoid and thyroid cartilages?

Answer 10

the cricothyroid joint, which is a synovial/diarthrodial joint

Question 11

Interactions between the Thyroid and Cricoid..

Answer 11

• joint allows thyroid to “rock over” the cricoid

- can change vocal fold length by 25%

Question 12

What kind of facets does the cricoid cartilage have for the arytenoids?

Answer 12

2 convex facets

Question 13

Arytenoid Cartilage

Answer 13

2 small arytenoid cartilages artic with the cricoid cartilage

Question 14

Arytenoid Processes

Answer 14

• vocal process (VFs connect here)
• muscular process
• apex/extension of arytenoid cart.

Question 15

Where is the arytenoids articular facet located?

Answer 15

on the inferior surface of the muscular process

meets with the convex articular facet on the cricoid

Question 16

Interactions between cricoid and arytenoid

Answer 16

• rocking motion of the arytenoid on the cricoid

- synovial saddle joints

Question 17

Which 3 ligaments affect joint motion of the arytenoid?

Answer 17

posterior cricoarytenoid ligament, lateral cricoarytenoid ligament, and the vocal ligament

Question 18

abduction

Answer 18

when vocal folds move apart from eachother (when they OPEN)

Question 19

adduction

Answer 19

when vocal folds come together (when they CLOSE)

Question 20

arytenoid connection is very important to..

Answer 20

open and close the VFs

Question 21

when the arytenoid rock forward, this causes

Answer 21

adduction, the vocal folds come together and close

Question 22

cricothroid joint allows the thyroid to..

Answer 22

rock up

Question 23

What shape is the epiglottis cartilage?

Answer 23

leaf-shaped

Question 24

Thryoepiglottic ligament

Answer 24

to deep surface of the angle of the thyroid cartilage (below the notch)

Question 25

Hyoepiglottic ligament

Answer 25

anterior surface of epiglottis attached the the body of the hyoid bone v

Question 26

Function of the Epiglottis

Answer 26

shuts off airway to trachea when we swallow

Question 27

Corniculate cartilages location

Answer 27

-sit on top of the apex of the arytenoid cartilages

Question 28

Cuneiform cartilage location

Answer 28

• embedded within the aryepiglottic folds

- these are the folds that form the entrance to the larynx

Question 29

Corniculate composition

Answer 29

elastic cartilage

Question 30

Corniculate function

Answer 30

no funtion for vocalization or speech production in humans

Question 31

Cuneform composition

Answer 31

elastic cartilage

Question 32

Cuneform function

Answer 32

possibly stiffen aryepiglottic folds to maintain the opening of the larynx