Larynx Anatomy Flashcards
General Features of Larynx
A. The larynx serves both a respiratory and voice-producing (phonation) function.
B. Connects pharynx to trachea; thus directing air to respiratory passages.
C. Also acts to prevent passage of food materials into the airways.
D. Located in the neck, anterior to CV3 – CV6.
E. Composed of cartilages, membranes, and muscles which control the rate and amount of air flowing through the larynx; thus altering the pitch, tone, and volume of voice.
Internal Features of Larynx
A. Laryngeal aditus – superior opening from pharynx
B. Vestibule – area proximal (above) vestibular folds
C. Vestibular (false) folds
D. Rima vestibuli – opening between vestibular folds
E. Ventricle – between vestibular and vocal folds
F. True vocal folds
G. Rima glottidis – opening between true vocal folds
- Shape varies depending on position of vocal folds
- Variation in the tension and length of the vocal folds, and width of rima produces changes in pitch of the voice.
H. Glottis – rima glottidis plus vocal folds
I. Infraglottic cavity - distal (below) true vocal folds
Clinical correlation cricoid cartilage
– landmark for CV6
- Site where carotid artery can be compressed against CV6
- Junction of larynx and trachea
- Junction of pharynx and esophagus
Tracheotomy
- Obstruction of the upper airway can be overcome by puncturing the larynx or trachea.
- Incision is made between the cricoid cartilage and the first tracheal cartilages.
- Incision can also be made between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages (through the cricothyroid ligament).
Laryngeal Cartilages
Thyroid, Cricoid, Arytenoid, Epiglottic, Corniculate, CUneiform
Thyroid Cartilage
- Lies anterior to CV4, CV5
- Features
a. Laminae (2) fuse anteriorly and remain open posteriorly.
b. Superior horn – attached to hyoid bone by lateral thyrohyoid ligament
c. Inferior horn – articulates with cricoid cartilage
d. Laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple)
e. Superior thyroid notch
f. Oblique line
Cricoid cartilage
- Lies anterior to CV6
- Features
a. Immobile ring attached via membrane to first tracheal cartilage
b. Anterior arch
c. Posterior lamina
d. Articulates with arytenoid and thyroid cartilages
Arytenoid cartilages
- Lie perched atop the posterior portion of the cricoid cartilage
- Features
a. Apex – attaches to aryepiglottic fold
b. Vocal process – attaches to vocal ligament
c. Muscular process – attaches to posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles
Epiglottic cartilage
- Leaf-shaped, elastic cartilage situated posterior to root of tongue.
- Broad, superior end is free; inferior end is attached to the thyroid cartilage.
- Muscles of the pharynx pull the thyroid cartilage against the epiglottis during swallowing to prevent food from moving into the larynx.
- Ligaments
a. Thyroepiglottic ligament
b. Hyoepiglottic ligament
c. Aryepiglottic ligament
d. Glossoepiglottic ligaments (median and lateral)
Corniculate cartilages
lie atop the apex of the arytenoid cartilages
Cuneiform cartilages
lie within aryepiglottic folds
Laryngeal Ligaments - External
- Thyrohyoid membrane
a. Attaches hyoid bone to superior border of thyroid cartilage
b. Thickened laterally (lateral thyrohyoid ligament) and medially (median thyrohyoid ligament)
c. Pierced by the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery. - Cricotracheal ligament – attaches cricoid to first tracheal cartilage
- Hyoepiglottic ligament
- Glossoepiglottic ligament
Laryngeal ligaments- Intrinsic ligaments
Quadrangular ligament
Cricovocal (conus elasticus) ligament
Quadrangular ligament
a. Attaches anteriorly to the thyroid and epiglottic cartilages
b. Attaches posteriorly to the arytenoid cartilage
c. Forms vestibular ligaments; covered with mucosa = vestibular fold
d. Forms aryepiglottic ligament; covered with mucosa = aryepiglottic fold
*** Cricovocal (conus elasticus) ligament **
a. Attaches inferiorly to cricoid cartilage.
b. Attaches superiorly to thyroid and arytenoid cartilages.
c. Thickened regions:
1. Median cricothyroid ligament
2. Lateral cricothyroid ligament
3. Vocal ligament – extends from internal surface of thyroid lamina to vocal process of arytenoid; covered with mucosa = vocal fold