Larynx Flashcards
Where is the location of the larynx?
- Enclosed in the pretracheal fascia of the neck
- in the visceral layer of the pretracheal fascia
- very thin muscular layer lies anterior to the visceral layer
what is the larynx anterior to?
laryngopharynx
what is the larynx between?
carotid sheath structures
what level of the cervical vertebrae is the larynx found?
C4-C6
what does the ;larynx communicate with?
- oropharynx and nasopharynx above
- oral cavity
- nasal cavity
- trachea below
at what vertebral level does the larynx become the trachea?
C6
what is the skeleton of the larynx made of?
composed of cartilages suspended from hyoid bone
what are the functions of the larynx?
-maintaining patency of URT
:cartilages
-help prevent entry of foreign bodies into LRT
:vocal cords and cough reflex
-produce sound
:vocal cords
what is the membrane connecting the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage?
thyrohyoid membrane
what is the membrane connecting the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage?
cricothyroid membrane - access point for cricothryoid puncture
what type of cartilage are all the cartilages and what is the exception?
- Hyaline
- Exception : epiglottis is elastic
How many cartilages are there in the larynx?
9
- 3 pairs
- 3 individual
what is the only cartilage that is completely enclosed?
cricoid
what are the 2 horns of the thyroid cartilage?
- superior
- inferior
what is the anterior structure of the thyroid cartilage?
laryngeal prominence
what allows the nodding movement between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages?
the capsule of the right cricothyroid joint (synovial)
what stretches the posterior and slightly lateral side of the cricoid cartilage?
lamina
what is the way into the larynx?
laryngeal inlet
what cartilage is found inside the larynx?
arytenoid cartilages
where do the vocal cords attach between?
- thryoid cartilage
- vocal processes of arytenoid cartilages
what do the anterior and lateral processes of the arytenoid cartilage attach to?
- anterior- vocal cord
- lateral- muscule attaches
what is the space between the vocal cords called?
rima glottidis
what cartilages are located deep to the laryngeal mucosa and what is their function?
- cuneiform and corniculate cartilages
- support the laryngeal inlet but play no part in moving the vocal cords
what is the mucosal lining of the inside of the larynx mainly and whats the exception?
- respiratory epithelium
- exception: the vocal cords - stratified squamous epithelium