Larynx - Cartilages

Question 1

What are the unpaired cartilages?

Clinical relevance - cricoid cartilage

Answer 1

1) Cricoid (C6)
- Ring of hyaline cartilage
- Articulates with the arytenoid cartilages posteriorly

Clinical relevance - Sellick’s manouvre - applying pressure to the cricoid to prevent regurgitation of gastric contents, during intubation.

2) Thyroid (C4)
- Laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple)
- Connects the superior horns to the hyoid via the thyrohyoid ligament
- Inferior horns connect to the cricoid

Question 2

What are the paired cartilages?

Answer 2

1) Arytenoid cartilages - pyriamidal structures that sit of the cricoid.
- Apex - articulates with the corniculate cartilage
- Base - articulates with the superior border of the cricoid cartilage
- Vocal process - provides attachment for the vocal ligament
- Muscular processes - provides attachment for the posterior and lateral cricoarytenoids.