Laryngeal Membranes, Ligaments, Joints, Cavities Flashcards
What do the extrinsic laryngeal membranes and ligament do?
Connect the larynx with adjacent structures for support
Hyothyroid (thyrohyoid) membrane:
Joins the inferior border of the hyoid bone and the superior border of the thyroid cartilage
Cricotracheal membrane:
Joins the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage and the superior border of the first tracheal ring
Hyoepiglottic ligament:
Provides a point of attachment between the hyoid bone and the epiglottis. It connects the anterior surface of the epiglottis to the body of the hyoid bone.
What do the intrinsic laryngeal membranes do?
Connect the laryngeal cartilages to each other and regulate movement.
Conus elasticus (cricovocal membrane):
The most inferior portion of this sheet of tissue. It joins the thyroid, arytenoid, and cricoid cartilages.
Quadrangular membrane:
The most superior portion of this sheet of tissue. It joins the epiglottis to the arytenoid and thyroid cartilages.
Where is the aryepiglottic fold located?
The lateral aspects of the epiglottis.
What is the vocal ligament an extension of and where is it located?
The conus elasticus. It is contained within the vocal folds.
The vocal ligament is comprised of…
Yellow, elastic tissue
What is the course of the vocal ligament?
It courses anteriorly, from the angle of the thyroid cartilage, to the vocal process of the arytenoids, posteriorly.
The vocal ligament will…
Stiffen and support the vocal folds.
What are the two joints of the larynx?
- Cricoarytenoid
2. Cricothyroid
What does the cricoarytenoid do?
It forms the articulation between the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages. This joint allows the vocal folds to approximate at the midline.
What does the cricothyroid do?
It forms the articulation between the cricoid and inferior Cornu of the thyroid cartilage and aids in the tensing of the vocal folds.
