Larynx

Question 1

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 1

Airway (Connects pharynx with trachea)

Organ of phonation (Voice box is located here)

Valve during swallowing (Larynx is shut off during swallowing to prevent the aspiration of food in to respiratory cavity)

Question 2

Where is the laryngeal prominence located?

Answer 2

C6

Question 3

Is the thryoid cartilage complete or incomplete?

Answer 3

Incomplete

NOTE: The cricoid cartilage is the cartilage in the respiratory system that fulls a full 360 ring

Question 4

Arytenoid cartilage sits on the back of the cricoid cartilage. There is a joint that forms. What type of joint is it?

Answer 4

Synovial joint

Question 5

The thyrohyoid membrane is pierced by the _____________.

Answer 5

internal laryngeal nerve (and superior laryngeal a & v)

Question 6

What is the clinical significants of the median cricothyroid ligament?

Answer 6

Site for performing an emergency laryngotomy

• open up the larynx to establish an emergency airway
• infraglottic cavity

Question 7

Why is the larynx shaped the way that it is?

Answer 7

To increase the speed at which the air is passing across vocal cords to amplify sound

• Shape helps to focus the air stream right on the vocal cords, so that they vibrate with enough amplitude

NOTE: Narrow ventricle is where things are most likely get stuck

Question 8

The ____________ is the opening between the true vocal cords and the arytenoid cartilages of the larynx.

Answer 8

rima glottidis

*When you don’t have a rima glottides (when vocal cords are completely adducted) you can’t breathe

Question 9

During breathing the rima glottidis is _________ (open/closed). During swallowing, the rima glottidis is _________(open/closed).

Answer 9

Open; closed

Question 10

THE RIMA GLOTTIDIS IS TIGHTLY CLOSED

AND OBSTRUCTS ALL AIRFLOW DURING:

Answer 10

1) Swallowing
2) Choking
3) Valsalva Maneuver

Question 11

The superior laryngeal nerve is derived from the__________pharyngeal arch

Answer 11

4th

Question 12

Inferior laryngeal nerve is derived from the ________pharyngeal arch

Answer 12

6th

Question 13

What are the branches of the superior laryngeal nerve? What is the function of each?

Answer 13

a. internal laryngeal nerve (goes through

thyrohyoid membrane) - Sensory

b. external laryngeal nerve- motor

Question 14

The vocal fold is the boundary between the territories for the _______ and ________ nerves.

Answer 14

Internal

• Innervation to everything above the true vocal cords

Recurrent laryngeal

• True Vocal cords and below

Question 15

The larynx has two synovial joints. What are they and what is there function?

Answer 15

• The cricothyroid joint rocks anteriorly & posteriorly
  
  • When thyroid cartilage tilts it increases and decreases tension.
    • Relaxed= deep sound
    • Stretched- high pitched sound
• Cricoarytenoid joint
  
  • ​rotation produces opening & closing of rima glottidis
  • sliding produces opening and closing of rima glottidis
  • tilting changes tensions in vocal folds

Question 16

What are the functions of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?

Answer 16

1) Open/Close Rima Glottidis
2) Tense/Relax Vocal Folds
3) Close Aditus (laryngeal inlet)

Question 17

Only muscle that opens the rima glottidis

Answer 17

Posterior Cricoarytenoid muscle

*Other intrisic muscles (lateral cricoarythenoid and transverse arythenoid) close the rima glottidis

Question 18

What is the function of the cricothyroid ligament?

Answer 18

Tenses vocal ligaments and so increases pitch

Question 19

What is the function fo the thyroarytenoid ligament?

Answer 19

Pulls the thyroid & arytenoid cartilages closer together, thus relaxing the tension in the vocal cords (decreased tension makes voice deeper)

*Innervates by the recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 20

VOCALIS

Answer 20

• Fine control of vocal cord tension
• A specialized part of thyro-arytenoid that attaches to the vocal ligament

Question 21

Aryepiglottic Muscle

Answer 21

• Pulls the epiglottis posteriorly & inferiorly, like a trash-can lid
• Closes aditus

Question 22

The___________Nerve May Be Injured During a Thyroidectomy

Answer 22

Inferior Laryngeal

NOTE: Edema can also cause problems

Question 23

What can result from lesions to the internal laryngeal nerve?

Answer 23

1) voice changes ( hoarseness)
2) accumulation of saliva in piriform recess
3) fixed vocal fold