Larynx Flashcards
The larynx connects which two structure of the upper respiratory system?
pharynx and trachea
The larynx is adjacent to which vertebrae?
C4-C6
What triangle of the anterior neck is found lateral to the larynx?
carotid triangle
What are the 5 major cartilages of the larynx
thyroid cartilage
cricoid cartilage
epiglottic cartilage
paired arytenoid cartilages
Which laryngeal cartilage is open posteriorly and located bath C4-C5 vertebral level?
thyroid cartilage
What are the important landmarks on the thyroid cartilage?
laryngeal prominence
superior and inferior cornua
What does the thyroid cartilage articulate with inferiorly? Internally?
cricoid cartilage inferiorly
epiglottic cartilage internally
Which laryngeal cartilage is ring like with a narrower anterior arch and a broader posterior lamina?
cricoid cartilage
What does the cricoid cartilage articulate with laterally? posterosuperiorly?
thyroid cartilage laterally
arytenoid cartilages posterosuperiorly
What vertebral level is the cricoid cartilage at?
C6
The laryngeal cartilage that is tall and elongated and articulates with the anterior part of the thyroid cartilage?
epiglottic cartilage
The paired laryngeal cartilage that articulates with the posterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage?
arytenoid cartilages
The superior projections of the arytenoid cartilages?
vocal processes
The laryngeal folds that cover the vocal ligaments?
vocal folds
The laryngeal folds that are superior to the vocal folds and cover the vestibular ligaments?
vestibular folds
The vestibular ligaments and the vocal ligaments span from what structures?
the arytenoid cartilages to the thyroid cartilage
The area on the lateral wall of the laryngeal cavity between the vestibular folds and the vocal folds?
ventricles of the larynx
The folds of tissue that extend between the arytenoid cartilages and the epiglottis?
aryepiglottic folds
The opening between the laryngopharynx and the laryngeal cavity?
laryngeal inlet or aditus
The part of the larynx between the epiglottis and the glottis, superior to vestibular folds?
vestibule
The space between the glottis and the cricoid cartilage, inferior to the vocal folds?
intraglottic space
The space between left and right vocal folds?
rima glottidis
What is the vocal apparatus called and what is it made of?
glottis consists of left and right vocal folds and rims glottidis
What influences vocal sounds?
the shape of the rims glottidis and movements of the arytenoid cartilages
Rotation of arytenoid cartilages around a vertical axis causes the vocal folds to adduct and abduct. What happens to the rima glottidis when the vocal folds abduct?
rima glottidis gets wider
What causes changes in frequency of sound produced by vocal folds?
Anterior and posterior gliding movements altering the length and tension of vocal folds
During speech, do the vocal fold abduct or adduct? What does this do to the rima glottidis?
adduct, causing rima glottidis to narrow
What are the extrinsic muscles of the larynx? What do they do?
supra hyoid and infra hyoid muscles that move the entire larynx.
What are the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? Wha do they do?
There are several but the only one we need to identify is cricothyroid. They open/close the glottis and/or regulate tension of vocal folds
What supplies blood to the larynx?
Superior laryngeal artery (off superior thyroid)
Inferior laryngeal artery (off inferior thyroid)
The general sensory innervation and motor innervation to intrinsic muscles of the larynx is supplied by branches of what cranial nerve?
CN 10, vagus nerve
What are the branches of vagus nerve that supply the larynx?
- superior laryngeal (internal and external branches)
- recurrent laryngeal nerve
Which nerve passes through thyrohyoid membrane into the larynx?
internal laryngeal nerve, a branch of superior laryngeal nerve
Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx superior to the vocal folds and is commonly involved in cough reflex?
internal laryngeal nerve
Which nerve innervates cricothyroid muscle?
external laryngeal nerve
Which recurrent laryngeal nerve, right or left, loops around the same side subclavian artery to ascend the same side of the neck to the larynx?
right recurrent laryngeal nerve
Which recurrent laryngeal nerve, right or left, loops around the aortic arch to ascend the same side of the neck to the larynx?
left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Which nerve provides innervation to all but one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? What is the exception and what is it innervated by?
recurrent laryngeal arteries supply all but cricothyroid which is supplied by external laryngeal nerve
Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx inferior to the vocal folds?
recurrent laryngeal nerve
