Respiratory System Pt. 2 - Larynx

Question 1

What is the larynx mainly made of?

Answer 1

Made mostly out of cartilage & ligament; one bone inferior to the epiglottis (Hyoid bone)

Question 2

Where is the thyroid gland?

Answer 2

Anterior side of larynx but more inferior structure

Question 3

What are the three cartilages that form the larynx?

Answer 3

1. Thyroid Cartilage
2. Cricoid Cartilage
3. Epiglottis

Question 4

What is the thyroid cartilage and where is it located on the larynx?

Answer 4

Largest cartilage of the larynx that has 2 plates that connect anteriorly at the Adams Apple (Laryngeal prominence)

• Inferior to the thyroid membrane and epiglottis but superior to the cricoid cartilage and thyroid gland

Question 5

What is unique about the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 5

• In males the angle and size of the laryngeal prominence is larger
• Not a complete ring (does not connect posteriorly)
• It connects to the hyoid bone via a ligamentous membrane

Question 6

What is the cricoid cartilage and where is it located?

Answer 6

It is found inferior to the thyroid cartilage & it is narrow anteriorly and broad posteriorly.

Question 7

What is unique about the thyroid and cricoid cartilage?

Answer 7

Although they are cartilages they form moveable joints.

• They form the cricothryoid joint which is the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage connecting to the lateral side of the cricoid cartilage

Question 8

What does the cricothyroid joint allow for?

Answer 8

Movement; tilting thyroid cartilage back and forth (flexion and extension) which stretches or relaxes the **vocal ligaments ** which will affect the pitch of your voice

Question 9

What is the epiglottis? Where is it and what does it do?

Answer 9

The epiglottis is the third cartilage that forms the larynx; it is a fan shape that closes off larynx while eating

• Attaches to the interior surface of the adam’s apple

Question 10

What is the only cartilage in the larynx that is paired? Where do they sit?

Answer 10

The arytenoid cartilages

• Sit on top of cricoid cartilage to form the cricoarytenoid joints

Pyramid shaped cartilages

Question 11

What are the vocal process and muscular process and where are they located?

Answer 11

They are landmarks located on the arytenoid cartilage

• Vocal process is located anteriorly on the arytenoid
• Muscular process is located posteriorly on the arytenoid

Question 12

At the tip of the vocal process what connects the arytenoid cartilage to the interior of the thyroid cartilage

Answer 12

Vocal ligament

Question 13

What is the cricothyroid membrane? What does this form?

Answer 13

Membrane that connects all along cricoid cartilage & attaches to the thyroid cartilage anteriorly & arytenoid cartilage posteriorly

• Forms the vocal cords/folds (One on each side that produces sound)

Question 14

How are the vocal ligaments able to move?

Answer 14

Due to the cricoid cartilage connecting to the arytenoid cartilage (cricoarytenoid joint) this allows for adduction & abduction

Muscular process on the posterior side of the arytenoid cartilage attahches muscle which allows for abduction/adduction of the arytenoid

Question 15

When you take the vocal ligaments + cricothyroid membrane + mucus membrane, this creates?

Answer 15

Vocal folds

Question 16

Why do the arytenoids adduct?

Answer 16

1. In case the epiglottis decides to stop working, the arytenoids adduct and close the opening of the vocal folds
2. To produce sounds via forcing air up through the larynx to cause vibration of vocal folds against each other

High pitch = smaller space between vocal folds and it vibrates more quickly

Question 17

How does the tilt of the Thyroid cartilage contribute to creating high pitched sounds?

Answer 17

Stretches vocal ligaments to cause high pitch

Question 18

What is the glottis?

Answer 18

The space between the vocals folds; describe the opening and closing of the vocals folds as whether the glottis is opened or closed