pharynx and larynx Flashcards
function of pharynx
shared passageway for air and food AND provides resonating chamber for speech sounds AND houses tonsils (for immunological functions)
what does the pharynx house?
the tonsils
where does the pharynx start?
the choanae
where does the pharynx end?
the 6th cervicle vertebrae
what is the anatomical relationship btw the pharynx and the larynx?
the pharynx is superior to the larynx
what are the 3 divisions of the pharynx
nasopharynx (superior), oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
what are the borders of the nasopharynx?
superior: choanae
posterior: vertebral bodies
anterior/inferior: soft palate and oropharynx
what are some key features of the nasopharynx?
it has respiratory function! It has a soft palate, openings to the eustachian tube, and houses the adenoid (pharyngeal tonsil)
what does the soft palate form?
the posterior roof of the mouth
what is the extension off the soft palate called?
the uvula
what is the function of the soft palate?
swallowing - it contracts to close the nasopharynx when swallowing
what is the function of the eustachian tube?
to allow air to equalize pressure btw the nasopharnx and the middle ear
what is the eustachian tube?
a narrow passage btw the nasopharynx and the middle ear
what is the adenoid?
the adenoid, or the pharyngeal tonsil, is a patch of lymphoid tissue on the superior posterior wall that typically atrophies and shrinks by adulthood. It has signiciant immune function in kids
what is the superior border of the oropharynx?
nasopharynx
what is the inferior border of the oropharynx
laryngopharynx
what is the posterior border of the oropharynx?
the vertebral bodies
what is the anterior border of the oropharynx?
fauces (throat)/oral cavity
what is the function of the oropharynx
respitatory and digestive functions
what are some key features of the oropharynx
palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils
what is the posterior border of the laryngopharynx?
vertebral bodies
is the superior border of the laryngopharynx?
oropharynx
what is the inferior border of the laryngopharynx?
larynx and esophagus
what are the functions of the laryngopharynx?
respiratory and digestive functions
what are the key features of the laryngopharynx?
laryngeal inlet and the piriform fossae
what is the laryngeal inlet?
the entrance to the larynx
what is the piriform fossa
grooves on either side of the laryngeal inlet
what kind of epithelium does the nasopharynx have?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
what kind of epithelium does the oropharynx have?
nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
what kind of epithelium does the laryngopharynx have?
nonleratinized stratified squamous epithelium
what are the outer pharyngeal muscles?
superior constrictor, middle constrictor, and the inferior constrictor
how many superior constrictor muscles are there?
4
how many middle constrictor muscles are there?
2
how many inferior constrictor muscles are there?
2
what is the function of the superior constrictor?
constricts the upper portion of the pharynx to faciliate swallowing
where is the superior constrictor located?
around the oropharynx
where is the middle constrictor located?
around the laryngopharynx
where is the inferior constrictor located?
around the laryngopharynx
what is the function of the middle constrictor?
to contrict the middl portion of the pharynx to faciliate swallowing
what is the function of the inferior constrictor
to constrict the lower portion of the pharynx to faciliate swallowing AND to form the upper esophageal sphincter
where does the superior constrictor attach?
the occipital bone and the pharyngeal raphe
where does the middle constrictor attach?
the pharyngeal raphe
where does the inferior constrictor attach
the pharyngeal raphe
what is the sensory innervation behind the constrictor muscles
the glossopharyngeal nberve
what is the motor innervation behind the constrictor msucles
the vagus nerve
what does the larynx do?
the larynx connects the laryngopharynx to the trachea, acts as a valve who functions to close the trachea, and is in charge of voice production
what types of cartilage makes up the larynx
the epiglottis, the thyroid cartilage, the arytenoid cartialge, and the cricoid cartilage
what portions of the larynx does thyroid cartilage form?
the upper and anterior walls of the larynx
what is thyroid cartilage made up of?
two fused plates of hyaline cartilage
what is the function of thyroid cartilage
to protect and support the vocal cords
what is the epiglottis covered with?
epithelium
what is the function of the epiglottis?
to close off the larynx during swallowing
what does the cricoid cartilage do?
forms the inferior wall of the larynx and maintains airway opening
what kind of cartilage is cricoid cartilage
hyaline cartialge
what is the function of arytenoid cartilage
arytenoid cartilage are triangular pieces that sit on cricoid cartilage and influence` movement of vocal folds
what does extrinsic laryngeal ligaments do?
attach larynx to external structures
what is the function of laryngeal ligaments
to support the cartilaginous skeleton of the larynx
what does intrinsic laryngeal ligaments do?
attach cartilages of the larynx together
what are extrinsic larynegal ligaments made out of?
thyrohyoid membrane (medial and lateral thyrohyoid ligaments) and cricotracheal ligament
what are instrinsic laryngeal ligaments made out of?
cricothyroid ligament
what does the thyrohyoid membrane do
connects thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone
what does the cricotracheal ligament do?
connects cricoid cartilage to the trachea
what does the cricothyroid ligament do?
connects cricoid cartilage to thyroid cartilage
which vocal folds are false vocal cords
the superior ventricular folds of the mucous membrane of the larynx
what is the function of false vocal cords?
to protect the vocal folds
which vocal folds are true vocal folds
the inferior vocal folds of the mucous membrane of the larynx
what is the function of true vocal cords?
voice production
which four structures make up the cavity of the larynx?
the vestibule, the glottis, the rima glottidis, and the infraglottic cavity
where does the vestibule of the larynx span from?
from the inlet to the vestibular folds
where does the glottis of the larynx span from?
from the false vocal cords to the true vocal cords`
what is the rima glottidis
the gap btw the vocal folds
where is the infraglottic cavity
below the vocal folds
what do the instrinsic laryngeal muscles do?
control shape of rima glottidis and control length and tension of vocal folds
what are the 6 laryngeal muscles?
the cricothyroid, the thyroarytenoid, the post + lat cricoarytenoid, and the tranverse + oblique arytenoid
what is the function of the cricothyroid?
to stretch and tense the vocal ligament- this alters tone of voice
what is the function of the thyroarytenoid?
to relax the vocal ligament
what is the function of the posterior cricoarytenoid
to widen to rima glottidis - functions as the sole abductor of the vocal folds
what is the function of the lateral cricoarytenoid?
to narrow the rima glottidis - functions as a major adductor of the vocal folds
what is the function of the transverse and oblique arytenoid
to adduct the arytenoid cartilage and to narrow the rima glottidis to modulate tone/volume of speech
how does the superior laryngeal nerve innervate the larynx
by giving sensory (via internal branch) innervation above the vocal cords and motor (via external branch) innervation to the cricothyroid muscle
