Respiratory Flashcards
The regions of the neck can be split into three layers. From anterior to posterior what are these layers and what do they contain?
- endocrine layer
thryoid and the parathyroid glands
- respiratory layer
trachea and the larynx
- alminetary layer
pharynx and the oesophagus
Larynx:
- What vertebral level does it sit at?
- What is its primary function?
- C3 - C6
2.
- voice production
- maintaining a patent airway
- connecting the pharynx and trachea
What are the names of the three unpaired cartilages that form the basis of the larynx ?
- cricothyroid
- thyroid
- epiglottis
What are the names of the three paried cartilages that form the basis of the larynx?
- cuneiform
- arytenoid
- corniculate
What is the vertebral level of the thyroid cartilage?
C4-C5
What structures form the criothyroid joint?
What is the significance of this joint?
- The infrerior notch of the thryoid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage form the joint
- it enables the gliding and rotation of the thyroid cartilage which allows the vocal folds to be stretched/compressed allowing chnages in pitch
What structures form the criothyroid joint?
What is the significance of this joint?
- The infrerior notch of the thryoid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage form the joint
- it enables the gliding and rotation of the thyroid cartilage which allows the vocal folds to be stretched/compressed allowing chnages in pitch
What is the only cartilage that is a full circle in the larynx called?
cricoid cartilage
CR of the vertebral level of the cricoid cartilage:
- What vertebral level?
- What artery can be crompressed at this level?
- What three other things occur at this level?
- C6
- carotid artery
- larynx and the trachea join
- pharynx and the oespohagus join
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve enters the larynx
What cartilage is found attached to the superior aspect of the arytenoid cartilage?
Corniculate cartilage
What two muscles are attached to the arytenoid cartilage?
Posterior cricoarytenoid and the Lateral circoarytenoid
Posteriorly the arytenoid carilages attach to the circoid cartilage. This forms the circoarytenoid joint. What movements of the vocal cords does this joint allow?
- slide towards and away from eachother
- tilt anteriorly and posteriorly
- rotate
What is the opening between the vocal cords called?
Rima Glottidis
What are the two mucles that make up the vocal fold?
- vocalis muscle
- thyroarytenoid muscle
Why are the vestibular folds named the ‘false vocal chords’ ?
They play a protective role and have nothing to do with phonation
What do the extrinsic muscles of the larynx do?
What are the two types of intrinsic laryngeal muscles?
How do they effect the larynx?
- move the larynx as a whole
- infrahyoid and suprahyoid
- infrahyoid - depress the hyoid and larynx
suprahyoid - elevate the hyoid and larynx
What is the overarching function of the intrinsic muscles ?
What are the three main groups they could be split into ?
- they alter the length and shape of the vocal folds and rima glottidis
- abductors and adductors
- sphincters
- tensors and relaxors
The adductors move the vocal folds towards eachother allowing for phonation.
What are the adductors of the larynx called ?
- lateral circoarytenoid muscles
- transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles
What are the adductors of the larynx called ?
- lateral circoarytenoid muscles
- transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles
The abductors keep the rima glottidis open, enabling ups to whisper.
What are the abductors of the larynx called ?
posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
The tensors pull the thyroid cartilage forward, elongating the vocal folds and increaing the pitch of the voice.
Which muscles are the tensor muscles of the larynx ?
cricothyroid muscles
The relaxors work by pulling the arytenoid cartilages anteriorly towards the thyroid cartilage. This shortens the vocal cords dropping the pitch.
What are the names of the laryngeal muscles that allow this to happen?
thyroarytenoid muscles
Why laryngeal muscle acts as both a tensor and relaxor ?
When does it act?
- Vocalis muscle
2. animated speech and singing
Laryngeal innervation:
What cranial nerve does the main nerve that supplies the intrisic muscle branch off from ?
What is the branch that innervates nearly all the laryngeal muscles called ? What is the terminal branch called ?
What muscle is exempt? Where does it recieve innervation from ?
What are the branches of the superior laryngeal nerve
- The vagus nerve
- The recurrent laryngeal nerve and its terminal branch the inferior laryngeal nerve
- cricothyroid muscle. external laryngeal nerve
Arterial vasculature of the larynx :
- What are the superior and inferior laryngeal arteries branches off?
Venous return:
what veins drain the larynx ?
- The superior and inferior laryngeal arteries of the thyroid artieries
- inferior and superior laryngeal veins. they run alongside the artieries
What vertebral level does the trachea start and end ?
starts = C6
ends =T4/T5
