Larynx

Question 1

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 1

• Allows air passage in & out of the trachea
• Protective sphincter preventing foreign bodies from entering the airway
• Organ of phonation (speech production)

Question 2

What is crucial during swallowing concerning the larynx ?

Answer 2

elevation

Question 3

What is superior and inferior to the larynx?

Answer 3

• Superiorly opens into the laryngopharynx forming its anterior wall (epiglottis)
• Inferiorly continues into the trachea

Question 4

What type of cartilage are the laryngeal cartilages?

Answer 4

all hyaline except the epiglottis which is elastic

Question 5

What are the laryngeal cartilages?

Answer 5

epiglottis (unpaired)
cricoid (unpaired)
thyroid (unpaired)
arytenoid (paired)
corniculate (paired)
cuneiform (paired)

Question 6

Which of the cricoid cartilages is the only complete ring?

Answer 6

cricoid

Question 7

Which cartilages cannot be viewed unless the larynx is taken apart?

Answer 7

arytenoid
corniculate
cuneiform

Question 8

Why is the epiglottis made of elastic cartilage?

Answer 8

it allows the epiglottis to be flexible and resilient, which helps it perform its function of protecting the airway and preventing aspiration

Question 9

What is the structure of the thyroid cartilage?

what is the significance in males

Answer 9

• Left & right laminae
• The laminae fuse anteriorly as the laryngeal prominence which is more obvious in males (Adam’s apple)

Question 10

What is the shape of the epiglottis and what is it attached to?

Answer 10

• Leaf-like plate of elastic cartilage (why?)
• Attached to the back of the thyroid cartilage

Question 11

What is between the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone?

Answer 11

thyrohyoid membrane

extrinsic

Question 12

What is anterior and posterior to the thyrohyoid membrane?

Answer 12

thickening of thyrohyoid forms;

anterior: median thyrohyoid ligament

posterior: lateral thyrohyoid ligaments

extrinsic

Question 13

What is from the arytenoid cartilage to thyroid cartilage to epiglottis?

extrinsic or intrinsic

Answer 13

intrinsic

quadrangular membrane

Question 14

What is from cricoid to arytenoid to thyroid cartilage?

extrinsic or intrinsic

Answer 14

intrinsic

cricothyroid ligament (cricovocal membrane)

Question 15

What is cricothyroid ligament thickened anteriorly as?

Answer 15

median cricothyroid ligament

Question 16

What is the lateral median cricothyroid ligament called?

Answer 16

conus elasticus

Question 17

What is the superior free edge of the cricothyroid ligament?

Answer 17

vocal ligament

Question 18

What are the laryngeal folds?

Answer 18

Mucous membrane lines the inner aspect of the larynx creating folds over the free edges of the previously described membranes & ligaments

Question 19

What are the names of the laryngeal folds?

Answer 19

• aryepiglottic fold
• vestibular folds (mucosa over vestibular ligamentt)
• vocal cords (mucosa over vocal ligament)

Question 20

Where is the aryepiglottic fold and what does it form?

Answer 20

• Over the superior free edge of the quadrangular membrane
• Forms the laryngeal inlet which is the protective sphincter of the larynx

Question 21

Where are the vestibular folds formed?

false vocal cords

Answer 21

formed over the inferior free edge of the quadrangular membrane (aka vestibular ligament)

Question 22

What is the inferior free edge of the quadrangular membrane called?

Answer 22

vestibular ligament

Question 23

Where are the vocal folds formed?

true vocal cords

Answer 23

formed over the superior free edge of the cricothyroid ligament (aka vocal ligament)

Question 24

What is the superior free edge of the cricothyroid ligament called?

Answer 24

vocal cord

Question 25

What is the space between the vocal folds called?

Answer 25

rima glottidis/glottis

Question 26

Why are the vestibular folds called false vocal cords?

Answer 26

they are not involved in phonation in speech production

Question 27

What are the roles of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles?

Answer 27

1. Open or close the rima glottidis 2. Alter the tension of the vocal folds (true vocal cords) 3. Open or close the laryngeal inlet

Question 28

What do the vocal and vestibular folds play an important role in?

Answer 28

coughing, sneezing & raising the intra-abdominal pressure during parturition (childbirth), micturition (urinating), defecation & lifting heavy objects

Question 29

What muscle opens the rima glottidis and how?

Answer 29

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is the only muscle to abduct the vocal folds opening the rima glottidis

Question 30

What muscles close the rima glottidis?

Answer 30

* Transverse arytenoid muscle * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

Question 31

What does lengthening and shortening of the vocal folds do?

Answer 31

alters tension and pitch of the voice * Lengthened vocal folds = increased tension = higher pitch * Shortened vocal folds = reduced tension = lower pitch

Question 32

What muscle shortens vocal folds?

Answer 32

thyroarytenoid muscle

Question 33

What is the upper part of the thyroarytenoid muscle called?

Answer 33

vocalis

Question 34

What muscle lengthens vocal folds?

Answer 34

cricothyroid muscle

Question 35

What muscle closes the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 35

oblique arytenoid muscle acting as a “purse-string”

Question 36

What muscle opens the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 36

by descent of the larynx (& pharynx) mainly by elastic recoil

Question 37

What is the motor nerve supply of the intrinsic muscles?

Answer 37

* All intrinsic muscles of the larynx are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve with one exception! * Cricothyroid is supplied by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve | all vagus

Question 38

What is the sensory supply of the larynx?

Answer 38

* Sensation just above the vocal folds is supplied by the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve * Sensation below the vocal folds is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve | all vagus

Question 39

What is the larynx's role in quiet respiration?

Answer 39

* Vocal & vestibular folds are abducted * A triangular “open” rima glottidis

Question 40

What is the larynx's role in forced inspiration?

Answer 40

* Rima glottidis is forcefully & more widely opened by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

Question 41

How is speech produced?

Answer 41

* Vocal folds are adducted * Vestibule is open * Rima glottidis is closed & air is forced through causing vibration * Vocal fold length & tension, for pitch of voice, are altered by a fine interplay between the cricothyroid & thyroarytenoid (with its vocalis)

Question 42

How does phonation occur? | speech without articulation

Answer 42

- Vocal folds adducted and stridulating as air is forced between them - Vestibule open

Question 43

What happens in effort closure? | for heavy lifting, etc

Answer 43

* Vocal & vestibular folds are adducted * Rima glottidis is closed * Vestibule is also closed

Question 44

What is anatomically related to the thyroid gland? | vessels, cartilage, glands, nerves and structures

Answer 44

trachea ijv cca thyroid cartilage cricoid cartilage superior parathyroid gland inferiror parathyroid right recurrent laryngeal nerves left recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 45

What is the midline pyramidal lobe a remnant of?

Answer 45

thyroglossal duct