Respiratory System Part 2 - Larynx Flashcards
where does air exchange happen?
the larynx
where do we produce sound?
the larynx
what is the larynx covered in?
a mucous membrane
- just like most of the respiratory system
what is the structure of the larynx?
very strong but it contains almost no bone
what is the only bone apart of the larync?
hyoid bone
where is the hyoid bone?
right at the top of the larynx
- kind of ‘U’ shaped
what is most of the larynx structure formed by?
mainly by cartilage and then some ligamentous membrane
what structures form the walls of the larynx?
the ligamentous membranes
where is the thyroid gland?
anteriorly, near the bottom of the larynx
what are the three unpaired cartilages that form the structure of the larynx?
- thyroid cartilage
- cricoid cartilage
- epiglottis
which larynx cartilage is the largest?
thyroid cartilage
- has two large plates that connect anteriorly
where do the two thyroid cartilage plates of the larynx connect?
anteriorly at the laryngeal prominence (adams apple)
what is different about the adams apple in men and women?
the angle and size in larger in males and tilts a little more forward in a male (why is sticks out)
is thyroid cartilage in the larynx a complete ring?
no, it is open in the back
how does the thyroid cartilage of the larynx connect to the hyoid bone?
by a membrane
where is cricoid cartilage in relation to thyroid cartilage in the larynx?
inferiorly
is the cricoid cartilage a complete ring?
yes
- narrow anteriorly but broad posteriorly
what is the joint that joins the cricoid and thyroid cartilage in the larynx?
the cricothyroid joint
- between the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage and the sides of the cricoid cartilage
what does the cricothyroid join allow?
a flexion-extentsion movement ( tilt back - tilt forward)
what are vocal ligaments involved in?
the productive of sound
what is stretched or relaxed when you tilt back or forward at your cricothyroid joint?
the vocal ligament
- this affects the pitch of voice
what is the shape of the epiglottis?
like a fan
what is the epiglottis important for?
closing off the larynx when we swallow food
what is the epiglottis attached to?
interior surface of adams apple by a ligament so that the epiglottis can have some mobility
everything below the cricoid cartilage is called?
the trachea
- further down is the lungs
what are the posterior paired cartilages of the larynx?
- arytenoid cartilage
what is the shape of the arytenoid cartilages?
pyramid shaped
where does the arytenoid cartilage sit?
on top of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx to form a join called the cricoarytenoid joint
what is the vocal process?
the pointy bit at the front of the arytenoid cartilage of the larynx
where is the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage?
at the back
where does the vocal ligament connect from?
from the tip of the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage to the inside of the thyroid cartilage
what is in between the vocal ligament and the cricoid cartilage beneath?
a membrane that fills in the space called the cricothyroid membrane
- connects all along the cricoid cartilage on both sides and attached to the interior thyroid cartilage anteriorly, all along the vocal ligament and then to the arytenoid cartilage posteriorly
what does the cricothyroid membrane form?
the vocal folds / vocal cords
- one on each side
where do we produce sound?
the cricothyroid membrane which forms the vocal cords
how does the vocal cords do abduction and adduction?
they have a number of tiny muscles attached to the muscular process on the back of the arytenoid cartilage which will help move the arytenoids on the cricoarytenoid joint
what is a vocal fold?
when you have a vocal ligament, add the cricothyroid ligament, and add mucous
what joint does adduction and abduction of the vocal cords?
cricoarytenoid joint
why do we need abduction and adduction of the cricoarytenoid joint?
- backup if the epiglottis doesn’t stop food from getting in larynx (adduction/close the vocal folds)
- adduction of arytenoids will produce sound
how does the adduction of arytenoids produce sound?
- the vocal ligaments will be very close to each other, we can force air up from the lungs out of the larynx and that causes the vibration of the vocal folds against each other
- high pitch = quicker vibration = smaller space between the folds
why is our pitch affected by the tilts of our cricothyroid joint?
because if we tilt the thyroid cartilage forward, it stretched the vocal ligament which will cause a higher pitched sound
why do men have a lower pitch than females?
- the anatomy of the larynx
- men have a larger larynx
- men have longer vocal ligaments
- which all causes a deeper voice
when we talk about the opening and closing of the vocal folds, what do we say?
the glottis is open or closed
what is the glottis?
the space between the vocal folds
