Laryngeal System

Question 1

what is the laryngeal system

Answer 1

voice box

Question 2

what does the laryngeal system do

Answer 2

allows phonation AND prevents contamination of lower airway by ingested food/drink

Question 3

what is phonation (sound production) controlled by

Answer 3

intrinisic muscles that move the laryngeal cartilages

Question 4

what is the mechanical structure of laryngeal system

Answer 4

cartilage

Question 5

what are the 3 individual cartilages

Answer 5

1) thyroid cartilage
2) cricoid cartilage
3) epiglottis

Question 6

what are the 3 paired cartilages

Answer 6

1) arytenoid cartilages
2) corniculate cartilages
3) cuneiform cartilage

Question 7

what is the most important cartilage for phonation

Answer 7

arytenoid cartilage

Question 8

what do the arytenoids / corniculate cartilages do

Answer 8

regulate vocal cord tension for speech and aids in closing the larynx for swallowing

Question 9

what do the cuneiform cartilages do

Answer 9

stiffen soft tissue in this region

Question 10

thyroid & cricoid cartilage do what

Answer 10

protect the larynx

Question 11

what does the movement of thyroid and arytenoid cartilages do relative to the cricoid cartilage

Answer 11

control phonation and the pitch of that phonation

Question 12

what are the small intrinsic muscles that act as manipulators of cartilage movements

Answer 12

posterior cricoarytenoid
lateral cricoarytenoid
cricothyroid

Question 13

posterior cricoarytenoid is the primary _______

Answer 13

abductor

Question 14

lateral cricoarytenoid is the primary ______

Answer 14

adductor

Question 15

what does the cricothyroid do

Answer 15

tilts thyroid to adjust tension

Question 16

what are the secondary intrinsic muscles

Answer 16

a) transvere and oblique arytenoid muscles
b) vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles

Question 17

what do the secondary intrinsic muscles do

Answer 17

fine tine the primary abductor/adductors

Question 18

control abduction and adduction of vocal cords and tension on these cords are important for phonation because of its _______

Answer 18

rocking and increasing length
- also intrinsic muscles support movement of the laryngeal opening and the epiglottis

Question 19

_______ and ___________ muscles help depress epiglottis to protect airway from ingested food/water

Answer 19

aryepiglottic and thryoepiglottic

Question 20

review intrinsic muscles of larynx

Answer 20

Question 21

1) superior laryngeal nerve
- sensory innervation above cords
- motor of cricothyroid
2) recurrent laryngeal nerve
- sensory innervation below glottis
- motor of all other muscles
(especially important for intrinsic muscles)

Answer 21

two branches of CN X that innervate structures of the larynx

Question 22

what has to happen for sound to be created?

Answer 22

tightly adduct VF
traveling wave - source of phonation

Question 23

what determines pitch (frequency)

Answer 23

adjusting tension
- stretch = increase stiffness/increase pitch

Question 24

what determines amplitude (loudness)

Answer 24

increased subglottic pressure
- what do you do to yell at kiddos