Larynx

Question 1

What does the larynx connect?

Answer 1

The lower part of the pharynx to the trachea

Question 2

Name the functions of the larynx. (3)

Answer 2

1) Prevents the passage of food into the airway during swallowing
2) Regulates the flow of air into the lungs
3) Functions in vocalization

Question 3

How long is the larynx in an adult?

Answer 3

5 cm long

Question 4

Where does the larynx lie (what vertebral level)?

Answer 4

Between C3 and C6

Question 5

Name the 6 cartilages of the larynx.

Answer 5

1) Thyroid
2) Cricoid
3) Epiglottic
4) Arytenoid
5) Corniculate
6) Cuneiform

Question 6

What are the features of the thyroid cartilage? (7)

Answer 6

1) Superior Thyroid Notch
2) Inferior Thyroid Notch
3) Laryngeal prominence- anterior median elevation
4) Superior horn (attached to the greater horn of the hyoid bone)
5) Inferior horn (articulates with cricoid cartilage)
6) Laminae
7) Oblique line (located on external surface of lamina)

Question 7

What muscles attach on the oblique line?

Answer 7

Inferior constrictor, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles

Question 8

What are the parts of the cricoid cartilage? (2)

Answer 8

1) Narrow anterior arch

2) Broad posterior lamina

Question 9

Which cartilage is the most inferior of the laryngeal cartilages?

Answer 9

Cricoid cartilage

Question 10

Which cartilage lies behind the root of the tongue and body of the hyoid bone?

Answer 10

Epiglottic cartilage

Question 11

How does the lower end of the epiglottic cartilage attach to the back of the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 11

Thyroepiglottic ligament

Question 12

Which of the 6 laryngeal cartilages are paired?

Answer 12

Arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform

Question 13

What are the parts of the arytenoid cartilages?

Answer 13

Vocal process and muscular process

Question 14

What does the vocal process give attachment to?

Answer 14

The vocal ligament

Question 15

What does the muscular process give attachment to?

Answer 15

Intrinsic muscles of the larynx

Question 16

Which cartilages lies in the arytenoid cartilages and are closed within the aryepiglottic fold?

Answer 16

Corniculate cartilages

Question 17

Which cartilages lie in the aryepiglottic folds anterior to the corniculate cartilages?

Answer 17

Cuneiform cartilages

Question 18

Which cartilages have the ability to ossify and can be mistaken for a fracture on xray?

Answer 18

Corniculate and cuneiform cartilages

Question 19

What are the two joints of the larynx and which types of joints are they?

Answer 19

Cricothyroid and cricoarytenoid joints

Synovial joints

Question 20

Where is the cricothyroid joint located?

Answer 20

Between the side of the cricoid cartilage and the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage

Question 21

What type of movement does the cricothyroid joint permit?

Answer 21

Rotation of the thyroid cartilage around a horizontal axis

Question 22

Where is the cricoarytenoid joint located?

Answer 22

Between the upper border of the cricoid cartilage and the base of the arytenoid cartilage

Question 23

What type of movement does the cricoarytenoid joint permit?

Answer 23

Gliding and rotation of the arytenoid cartilage on the cricoid cartilage

Question 24

Where does the thyrohyoid membrane extend from?

Answer 24

The thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone

Question 25

What is the thyrohyoid membrane pierced by on each side?

Answer 25

Internal laryngeal nerve and the superior laryngeal vessels

Question 26

Where does the median cricothyroid ligament extend from?

Answer 26

The arch of the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage

Question 27

Where does the vocal ligament extend from?

Answer 27

The thyroid cartilage in front to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage behind

Question 28

What is the conus elasticus and where does it extend from?

Answer 28

A fibrocartilage membrane; extends upward from the cricoid cartilage to the vocal ligament

Question 29

What does the quadrangular membrane connect?

Answer 29

The epiglottic cartilage to the arytenoid cartilage on each side

Question 30

What does the superior margin of the quadrangular membrane form?

Answer 30

The aryepiglottic ligament within the aryepiglottic fold

Question 31

What does the inferior margin of the quadrangular membrane form?

Answer 31

The vestibular ligament within the vestibular fold

Question 32

Which two folds make up the larynx?

Answer 32

1) Vestibular Folds (False vocal cords) | 2) Vocal Folds (True vocal cords)

Question 33

Which two structures does the vocal folds contain?

Answer 33

Vocal ligament and vocalis muscle

Question 34

What is the rima vestibuli?

Answer 34

The space between vestibular folds

Question 35

What is the rima glottidis?

Answer 35

The space between the vocal folds. It is the narrowest part of the laryngeal cavity

Question 36

What does the glottis include?

Answer 36

Rims glottidis and vocal folds

Question 37

How many cavities is the larynx divided into by the vestibular and vocal folds?

Answer 37

1) Laryngeal Vestibule (extends from laryngeal inlet to the vestibular folds) 2) Laryngeal Ventricles (lie between the vestibular folds and vocal folds) 3) Infraglottic Cavity (extends from the vocal folds to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage)

Question 38

What is the small diverticulum within the laryngeal ventricle?

Answer 38

Laryngeal saccule

Question 39

What is the function of the laryngeal saccule?

Answer 39

Contains glands that lubricate the vocal folds (oil can of vocal folds)

Question 40

What is the clinical significance of the laryngeal saccule?

Answer 40

1) In hoarseness (partial aphonia) due to excessive singing or speaking, lubricant from laryngeal saccule is temporarily depleted 2) Laryngitis: inflammation of vocal fold

Question 41

Name the extrinsic muscles that elevate the larynx as a whole. (6)

Answer 41

1) Thyrohyoid 2) Stylohyoid 3) Mylohyoid 4) Digastric 5) Stylopharyngeus 6) Palatopharyngeus

Question 42

Name the extrinsic muscles that depress the larynx as a whole. (3)

Answer 42

1) Omohyoid 2) Sternohyoid 3) Sternothyroid

Question 43

Origin of the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer 43

Cricoid cartilage

Question 44

Insertion of the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer 44

Inferior horn and lower lamina of thyroid cartilage

Question 45

Nerve of the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer 45

External laryngeal nerve

Question 46

Function of the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer 46

Tilts thyroid cartilage downward or cricoid cartilage upward thereby tensing the vocal cords (raises pitch of voice)

Question 47

Origin of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 47

Posterior surface of lamina of cricoid cartilage

Question 48

Insertion of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 48

Muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Question 49

Nerve of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 49

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 50

Function of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 50

Abducts the vocal folds

Question 51

What are the intrinsic muscles of the larynx involved in?

Answer 51

Speech

Question 52

Origin of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 52

Arch of cricoid cartilage

Question 53

Insertion of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 53

Muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Question 54

Nerve of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 54

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 55

Function of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

Answer 55

Adducts the vocal cords

Question 56

Origin of the transverse arytenoid muscle.

Answer 56

Posterior surface of arytenoid cartilage

Question 57

Insertion of the transverse arytenoid muscle.

Answer 57

Posterior surface of opposite arytenoid cartilage

Question 58

Nerve of the transverse arytenoid muscle.

Answer 58

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 59

Function of the transverse arytenoid muscle.

Answer 59

Adducts the vocal folds (function in coughing)

Question 60

Origin of the oblique arytenoid muscle.

Answer 60

Muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Question 61

Insertion of the oblique arytenoid muscle.

Answer 61

Apex of opposite arytenoid cartilage

Question 62

Nerve of the oblique arytenoid muscle.

Answer 62

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 63

Function of the oblique arytenoid muscle.

Answer 63

Adducts the vocal folds (function in coughing)

Question 64

Origin of the aryepiglottic muscle.

Answer 64

Apex of arytenoid cartilage

Question 65

Insertion of the aryepiglottic muscle.

Answer 65

Side of epiglottic cartilage

Question 66

Nerve of the aryepiglottic muscle.

Answer 66

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 67

Function of the aryepiglottic muscle.

Answer 67

Closes the laryngeal inlet

Question 68

Origin of the thyroepiglottic muscle.

Answer 68

Inner surface of thyroid lamina

Question 69

Insertion of the thyroepiglottic muscle.

Answer 69

Lateral margin of epiglottis

Question 70

Nerve of the thyroepiglottic muscle.

Answer 70

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 71

Function of the thyroepiglottic muscle.

Answer 71

Opens the laryngeal inlet

Question 72

Origin of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

Answer 72

Inner surface of thyroid lamina

Question 73

Insertion of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

Answer 73

Arytenoid cartilage

Question 74

Nerve of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

Answer 74

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 75

Function of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

Answer 75

Shortens and relaxes vocal folds by drawing the arytenoid cartilages forward (lowers pitch)

Question 76

Origin of the vocalis muscle.

Answer 76

Inner surface of thyroid lamina

Question 77

Insertion of the vocalis muscle.

Answer 77

Vocal process of arytenoid cartilage

Question 78

Nerve of the vocalis muscle.

Answer 78

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 79

Function of the vocalis muscle.

Answer 79

Adjusts tension on the vocal cords during phonation (fine tuning of vocal cord)

Question 80

Why are the vocal folds important in phonation?

Answer 80

They control the stream of air passing through the rima glottidis

Question 81

What is altered during phonation and respiration by movements of the arytenoid cartilages?

Answer 81

Size and shape of the rima glottidis

Question 82

During what action is the rima glottidis wide? Narrow and wedge shaped?

Answer 82

Inspiration | Expiration and phonation

Question 83

What is voice dimorphism determined by?

Answer 83

1) Length of vocal cords 2) Size of resonating chamber 3) Thickness of vocal cords (responds to androgens)

Question 84

What nerves innervates the larynx? (3)

Answer 84

1) Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve 2) Internal Laryngeal Nerve 3) External Laryngeal Nerve

Question 85

Which nerve is the most important nerve of the larynx?

Answer 85

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Question 86

What structures does recurrent laryngeal nerve supply motor and sensory function to?

Answer 86

Motor: All of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except cricothyroid Sensory: Mucosa of the larynx below the vocal fold

Question 87

What is the internal laryngeal nerve a branch of?

Answer 87

The superior laryngeal nerve

Question 88

What structure receives sensory innervation from the internal laryngeal nerve?

Answer 88

Mucosa of the larynx above the vocal folds

Question 89

Which nerve runs with the superior laryngeal artery and pierces the thyrohyoid membrane to enter the larynx?

Answer 89

Internal laryngeal nerve

Question 90

What is the external laryngeal nerve a branch of?

Answer 90

The superior laryngeal nerve

Question 91

Which muscles does the external laryngeal nerve supply motor innervation to?

Answer 91

Cricothyroid and inferior constrictor muscles

Question 92

Which two arteries provide blood supply to the larynx?

Answer 92

Superior laryngeal artery from the superior thyroid artery and the inferior laryngeal artery from the inferior thyroid artery