Larynx

Question 1

What is the larynx responsible for?

Answer 1

Responsible for the voice production (voice box or organ of phonation)
Upward and downward movements of larynx help in swallowing

Question 2

what does it continue as?

Answer 2

Below it is continuous with the trachea

Question 3

where is it located?

Answer 3

Located in the anterior neck at the level of C3 – C6 vertebrae
However, in children and in females it lies at a higher level

Question 4

What is the larynx made up of?

Answer 4

Made up of three unpaired and three paired cartilages

Question 5

what are the unpaired cartilages of the larynx?

Answer 5

thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Epiglottis

Question 6

what are the paired cartilages of the larynx?

Answer 6

Arytenoid cartilage
Corniculate cartilage
Cuniform cartilage

Question 7

what is the thyroid cartilage made up of?

Answer 7

hyaline cartilage

Question 8

what muscles attach to the oblique line on outer surface of the each lamina of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 8

Sternothyroid muscle
Thyrohyoid muscle
Inferior constrictor muscle

Question 9

Posterior borders of each lamina of the thyroid cartilage provide insertion to what?

Answer 9

Salpingopharyngeus muscle
Palatopharyngeus muscle
Stylopharyngeus muscle

Question 10

The posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage in the median plane provides attachment to:

Answer 10

Thyroepiglittic ligament
Pair of vestibular ligament
Pair of vocal ligament

Question 11

The cricoid cartilage sits at what level of the spinal cord?

Answer 11

C6

Question 12

what is the cricoid cartilage made up of ?

Answer 12

hyaline cartilage

Question 13

what is on each side of the lateral surface of the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 13

a circular facet for articulation with the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage

Question 14

Posteriorly upper border of lamina of cricoid cartilage articulates with

Answer 14

base of the arytenoid cartilage

Question 15

where is the epiglottis located?

Answer 15

Situated behind the hyoid bone and base of the tongue

Question 16

what is the lower end of the epiglottis attached to?

Answer 16

connected with the back of the thyroid cartilage, by the thyroepiglottic ligament

Question 17

what are the sides of the epiglottis connected to?

Answer 17

connected to the arytenoid cartilages by aryepiglottic folds

Question 18

how is the anterior surface of epiglottis attached to the tongue?

Answer 18

connected to the tongue by medial and lateral glossoepiglotic folds

Question 19

where is the Arytenoid cartilage located?

Answer 19

Situated at the back of the larynx

Question 20

what is the arytenoid cartilage made up of?

Answer 20

hyaline cartilage

Question 21

what are the two processes that project from the base of the arytenoid cartilage?

Answer 21

Vocal process: projects horizontally forwards and gives attachment to the vocal ligament
Muscular process: projects laterally and gives attachment to the posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles

Question 22

what are the laryngeal joints?

Answer 22

Includes paired crico-thyroid, crico-arytenoid and aryteno-corniculate joints

Question 23

what Connects the cricoid cartilage with the first tracheal ring?

Answer 23

Cricotracheal ligament

Question 24

what Connects narrow lower end of epiglottis to the posterior surface of thyroid angle

Answer 24

Thyroepiglottic ligament

Question 25

how does the laryngeal cavity extend?

Answer 25

Extends from inlet of larynx to the lower border of cricoid cartilage where it is continuous with the lumen of the trachea

Question 26

what are the boundaries of the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 26

Anterior – epiglottis
Posterior – interarytenoid fold
On each side – aryepiglottic fold

Question 27

what are the 3 parts that the laryngeal cavity is divided into?

Answer 27

Vestibule or upper part
Ventricle or sinus of larynx - Middle part
Infraglottic compartment – lower part

Question 28

what is the Rima glottidis

Answer 28

Gap between the vocal folds in front and the vocal process of arytenoid cartilages behind

Question 29

what is the rima glottidis lined by

Answer 29

stratified squamous epithelium

Question 30

what are the extrinsic elevator muscles of the larynx?

Answer 30

Digastric
Thyrohyoid
Stylohyoid
Mylohyoid
Geniohyoid

Question 31

what are the extrinsic depressor muscles of the larynx?

Answer 31

Sternothyroid
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid

Question 32

what are the intrinsic muscles of the larynx and their actions

Answer 32

Cricothyroid tenses the vocal cord
Posterior cricoarytenoid opens the rima glottidis
Lateral cricoarytenoid closes the rima glottidis
Transverse arytenoid closes the rima glottidis
Oblique arytenoid closes the rima glottidis
Thyroarytenoid relax the vocal cord
Vocalis relax the vocal cord
Thyepiglotticus opens the inlet of the larynx
Aryepiglitticus close the inlet of the larynx

Question 33

where do muscles of the larynx develop from

Answer 33

from 4th – 6th pharyngeal arches

Question 34

what is the blood supply of the muscles of the larynx

Answer 34

supplied by superior laryngeal and recurrent laryngeal nerves (braches of Vagus)

Question 35

what is the sensory nerve supply of the larynx

Answer 35

Up to the vocal folds (including the vocal fold): internal laryngeal nerve
- Below the vocal folds: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 36

what is the motor nerve supply of the larynx

Answer 36

All intrinsic muscles supplied by recurrent laryngeal nerve
Exception: cricothyroid – external laryngeal nerve

Question 37

what is semon’s law?

Answer 37

in progressive lesions of the recurrent laryngeal nerve the abductors of the vocal cords (posterior crico-arytenoids) are first to be paralysed and last to recover as compared to the adductors.
This is because the nerve supplying the abductors are longer and has less thresh-hold, hence these branches are affected first.

Question 38

what is the blood supply of the larynx?

Answer 38

Vocal folds and above: superior laryngeal vessels

Below the vocal folds: inferior laryngeal vessels

Question 39

what is the lympathic drainage of the larynx

Answer 39

Lymph vessels drain into deep cervical lymph nodes

Question 40

what are the boundaries of the rima glottis

Answer 40

In front – angle of thyroid cartilage
Behind – interarytenoid folds of mucous membrane
On each side – vocal folds in the anterior three-fifth and vocal process of arytenoid cartilage in the posterior three-fifth