Larynx Flashcards
Larynx position
in from of the 4th/5th/6th cervical vertebrae
Epiglottic cartilage
Flexibility of epiglottis
during swallowing
Hyoid bone elevates and draws the larynx upward
Thyroid cartilage
Laryngeal prominence- two laminae of hyaline cartilage fused @ midline
Carotid artery- bifurcates @ this point
Cricoid cartilage
Lies below thyroid cartilage
connects to thyroid cartilage by cricothyroid ligament
connects to the 1st tracheal ring by the cricotracheal ligament
Emergency airway- around C6
Arytenoid cartilage
Mounted on either side of the upper posterior border of the cricoid cartilage
site of attachment for the vocal ligament
Thyrohyoid membrane
connects the thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone- internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve
Cricothyroid ligament
site for introduction of emergency airway
Vocal ligaments
Vocal folds/cords- form anterolateral edges of the rim a glottides
Cricothyroid muscles
Lengthen and adduct the vocal cords
innervated by external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
Lateral cricoarytenoid and arytenoideus muscles
Adduction of vocal cords
innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve
Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
ABduct the vocal folds
innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve
Thyroarytenoid muscles
shortening and relaxing vocal cords
-aid in closure of rim a glottides
innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve
Aryepiglottic muscles
innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve
act as sphincter of the laryngeal inlet and vestibule
Vocalis muscles
Relax posterior part of vocal ligaments
-leads to rise in pitch
innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve
Vestibular folds
False vocal cords- mucous membranes
Ventricle
Space btwn the vestibular and vocal folds
Vocal folds
True vocal cords
Glottis
Refers to both vocal folds and the rim a glottides
Superior laryngeal artery
arises from the superior thyroid artery
Inferior laryngeal artery
branch of interior thyroid artery
arises from the thyocervical trunk off the subclavian artery
Internal laryngeal nerve
Sensory info from the upper portion of the larynx down to vocal cords
Also carries special sensory fibers and preganglionic parasym fibers
External laryngeal nerve
Motor to the cricothyroid muscle
-injury produce monotonous low-pitched voice- vocal cords can’t be lengthened
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Sensory info from the lower portion of the larynx
motor fibers to all the rest of the laryngeal muscles
carries pregang parasym fibers to the glands of the mucosal lining
injury- during surgery or postop edema- impinge on the nerve– difficulty breathing and/or speaking
