Laryngeal Anatomy

Question 1

Functions

Answer 1

1. Protect airway
2. Phonation
3. Basic Organ of Communication
4. Conduit for Air

Question 2

Borders

Answer 2

• Hyoid Bone (start, not part) - Superior
• Trachea - Inferior
• Pharynx - Posterior

Question 3

Laryngeal Cartilages (landmarks and labeling)

Answer 3

• Cartilages held together by
  
  • Elastic membranes and ligaments
  • Muscles
• The laryngeal tissues (cartilage and muscle) are lined by a mucous membrane
• Single
  
  • Epiglottis
    
    • Thing & leaf shaped, posterior to tongue and hyoid bone
    • Folds over larynx to protect during swallowing
  • 􏰀Thyroid
    
    • Thyroid Lamina
    • Thyroid Notch
    • Laryngeal Prominence
    • Adam’s Apple
    • Thyroid Angle
    • Superior and inferior cornu (horns)
  • 􏰀Cricoid
    
    • Signet ring: anterior = cricoid arch, posterior = cricoid lamina
• 􏰀Paired
  
  • Arytenoid
    
    • Pyramids
    • Two processes on the base: vocal and muscular
    • The two following sit on the apex
  • 􏰀Corniculate
  • Cuneiform

Question 4

Folds (labeling)

Answer 4

• Aryepiglottic folds
  
  • Run from the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages
• 􏰀Ventricular folds (“vestibular” folds)
  
  • False vocal folds
  • Involved in airway protection
  • Above (superior to) the true vocal folds
• 􏰀Vocal folds
  
  • True vocal folds
  • Involved in airway protection and vibration for speech

Question 5

ABduction verses ADduction

Answer 5

• Open: Abduction 􏰀
• Closed: Adduction

Question 6

Laryngeal Aditus

Answer 6

• Forms a collar at the top of the larynx
• Tops of the arytenoid cartilages, sides of the epiglottis, and the aryepiglottic folds
• Entrance into the larynx

Question 7

Laryngeal Spaces (labeling)

Answer 7

• Laryngeal vestibule
  
  • 􏰀 Supraglottic region between the laryngeal aditus and the ventricular folds
• 􏰀 Laryngeal ventricle
  
  • 􏰀 Space between the ventricular and vocal folds
• 􏰀 Glottis
  
  • 􏰀 Space between the vocal folds

Question 8

Superior and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves (motor and sensory components)

Answer 8

Superior laryngeal nerve

• Internal laryngeal nerve (sensory)
  
  • General and visceral sensation from the epiglottis, base of tongue, aryepiglottic folds, and larynx to the level of the vocal folds
• External laryngeal nerve (motor)
  
  • Motor to cricothyroid (intrinsic laryngeal muscle)

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

• Motor to intrinsic muscles of larynx (except cricothyroid)
• General and visceral sensation from the vocal folds and the larynx below the level of the vocal folds
• On the right side: divides off the vagus, hooks under the subclavian artery, and ascends back to the larynx
• On the left side: divides off the vagus, hooks under the aortic arch, and ascends back to the larynx