Larynx Flashcards
What type of cartilage is the larynx composed of?
Hyaline
What joint type exists between sections of larynx?
Synovial plane
Which muscles attach to the larynx?
Sternothyroid
Thyrohyoid
What is the largest cartilage of the larynx and what structure does it form??
Thyroid
Laryngeal prominence
What attaches the thyroid to the hyoid one?
What is the point of this?
Thyrohyoid membrane
Ensure muscles raising hyoid will also raise larynx
What articulates with the thyroid cartilage inferiorly
Cricoid cartilage
Sternothyroid, thyrohyoid and inferior constrictor attach to what part of thyroid?
Oblique line
The cricoid is thicker anteriorly. True or false?
False.
Thin anteriorly, signet posteriorly
What is the cricoid cartilage an attachment site for?
Intrinsic muscles of larynx e.g cricoarytenoids
What attaches the trachea and cricoid?
Cricotracheal ligament
What are the arytenoid cartilages?
They articulate with cricoid and move the vocal folds
Each has a muscular attachment = post and lat cricothyroid muscles
And a vocal process
What are the corniculate and cuneiform cartilages?
Tiny bits of cartilage that attach and support aryepiglottic folds
What type of cartilage epiglottis is the composed of?
elastic
Which muscles move the larynx?
None
it passively bends over the opening of the larynx
what is the function of the epiglottis?
Protects the opening of the airway
Describe the quadrangular ligament
Between arytenoid and epiglottis
The lower free edge is the false vocal fold
Upper border = aryepiglottic fold
What forms the true vocal fold?
Cricothyroid membrane
What is the rima glottidis?
Most posterior place between the vocal folds
List the extrinsic muscles of the larynx
Supra and infra hyoid muscles
Digastric
Stylohyoid
Mylohyoid
Geniohyoid
Stylopharyngeus
Salpingopharyngeus
Palatopharyngeus
List the intrinsic muscles of the larynx
Cricothyroid
Thyroarytenoid
Posterior/lateral/oblique/transverse cricoarytenoid
What is the action of the oblique arytenoids?
Pulls cartilages together i.e. folds together
Forming and incomplete sphincter around laryngeal inlet
What is the action of cricothyroid muscle?
Tenses and elongates vocal folds = increases tension = increased pitch
Which intrinsic muscle of the larynx is the odd one out and why?
Cricothyroid
Situated anteriorly and innervated by external laryngeal branch of vagus
What is the innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
Recurrent laryngeal branch of vagus except cricothyroid
What is the action of Thyroarytenoid?
Opposite of cricothyroid
Acts to pull arytenoids forwards to thyroid, shortening the folds and decreasing tension = decreased pitch
What is the action of posterior cricoarytenoid?
Rotates vocal process laterally
Abducting vocal cords
What is the action of lateral cricoarytenoid?
Rotates vocal process medially
adducts vocal folds and closes airway
What is the action of transverse arytenoid?
Closes rima glottidis
What is external laryngeal a branch of?
Superior laryngeal (X)
Route of recurrent laryngeal
Ascends neck between trachea and oesophagus then passes under inferior constrictor of pharynx into larynx
Describe the blood supply to the larynx?
o Inferior thyroid
- From thyrocervical trunk of subclavian
o Superior thyroid
- From external carotid
o Superior laryngeal
- From superior thyroid
o Inferior laryngeal
- From inferior thyroidWhere does the superior thyroid vein drain
Internal jugular
Where does the inferior thyroid vein drain?
Left brachiocephalic
Where does lymph from the larynx drain
paratracheal then deep cervical nodes
