The larynx Flashcards
Name the 3 unpair cartilage of the larynx
Epiglottis, thyroid, and cricoid
Name the largest cartilage and has a laryngeal prominence (hyaline cartilage)
Thyroid cartilage
Name the structures of thyroid cartilage
Lamina, superior and inferior horns, oblique line, superior thyroid notch, laryngeal prominence “AKA Adam’s apple”
Lies below the thyroid cartilage and shaped like a signet ring, with the expansion turned posteriorly (hyaline cartilage).
Cricoid
Name the structures of cricoid cartilage
crus right and left, cricoid arch, and lamina
Resembles a ring structure
Cricoid cartilage
smooth “bump” that creates an articulating surface
Facet
Name the Cricoid facets forming the joints
Cricoarytenoid Joint
Cricothyroid Joint
Both function like “Pivot Joints” Allow rotation to occur
leaf-shaped, lies behind and below the tongue, composed of fibroelastic cartilage, and when swallowing, descends to cover the entranceway into the larynx (superior laryngeal inlet)
Epiglottis
Name the attachments of the epiglottis
Aryepiglottic fold Median glossoepiglottic lateral glossoepiglottic folds valleculate hyoepiglottic ligament thyroepiglottic ligament
Folds-Complete formation of the Sup. Laryngeal Inlet. Attach the epiglottis to the 2 Arytenoid cartilages
Aryepiglottic folds
Attaches the epiglottis to the root of the tongue and produces the valleculae (depressions on the epiglottis). Also note the two lateral glossoepiglottic folds, located on either side lateral to the valleculae.
Median glossoepiglottic fold
Attaches the epiglottis to the side of the pharynx.
Lateral epiglottic folds
Attaches epiglottis to the hyoid bone. When swallowing occurs, the hyoid is elevated, creating a “fulcrum” effect around the hyoepiglottic attachment, which in turn causes the epiglottis to descend and cover the glottis (larynx also rises toward epiglottis).
Hyoepiglottic ligament
Attaches the epiglottis to the posterior thyroid cartilage and creates a “hinge” around with the epiglottis can rise and descend posteriorly to cover (and uncover) the superior laryngeal inlet.
Thyroepiglottic ligament
Name the pair cartilage of the pharynx
Arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform
When you swallow the __________muscles contract, the ________rises and ________descend
suprahyoid
Hyoid
epiglottis
When you complete swallowing ______ muscles contract ______descends and ________rises
infrahyoid
Hyoid
epiglottis
Situated at the back of the larynx and shaped somewhat like a pyramid, contains the vocal process, muscular process, and apex
Arytenoid
Articulate with the apices of the arytenoids and serve to elongate the arytenoid cartilages and facilitate attachment for the aryepiglottic folds.
Corniculates
Found within the aryepiglottic folds for increased tensile strength.
Cuneiforms
The interior of the larynx extends from the_______ _______ to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage
superior inlet
Vestibular (false) folds - these are in the upper portion of the larynx and are immobile. The opening between these folds is called
Rima vestibuli
The upper region of the larynx above the ________ fold is called the vestibule, the portion between the vestibular and vocal folds is called the ______ larynx, and the portion below the vocal folds is called the _______ larynx
vestibular
middle
lower
Vocal (true) folds are below the vestibular folds and are mobile and contain ______/_______ The opening between these folds is called the ______/______. There is a recess, or sinus, found between the vocal and vestibular folds. The true vocal folds and rima glottidis form what is commonly called the ______.
vocal/ligaments
Rima glottidis
Glottis
The upper region of the larynx above the vestibular fold is called the _________, the portion between the vestibular and vocal folds is called the ________/_______, and the portion below the vocal folds is called the ________/______.
Vestibule
middle larynx
lower larynx
How many Intrinsic muscles the Larynx has
9
Name the muscle of the Laryngeal inlet control (there are three)
Oblique arytenoid - narrow superior laryngeal inlet
Aryepiglotticus muscle located at the top part of the Oblique arytenoid muscle “AKA part of oblique arytenoid muscle) - narrow the superior laryngeal inlet.
Thyroepiglottic muscle - widens and stabilizes the superior laryngeal inlet (controls diameter of inlet)
Name the muscles controlling tension on the vocal cords
Cricothyroid
Thyroarytenoid
Tenses the Vocal Ligaments (Cords) high pith
Cricothyroid
Relaxes the Vocal Cords (Vocal Ligaments) by causing the thyroid cartilage to pivot posteriorly at the cricothyroid joint produces low pith
Thyroarytenoid
Represents the medial portion of the thyroarytenoid. Attachment of the thyroarytenoid to the vocal ligaments.
Vocalis
Name the muscles Muscles that control the size of the glottis
attach to the muscular Process of the Arytenoid Cartilage
Posterior Cricoarytenoid
Lateral Cricoarytenoid
Adducts the Vocal Ligaments (close the airway)
Lateral cricoarytenoid
Abducts the Vocal Ligaments (open the airway)
Posterior Cricoarytenoid
Name the joint where Abduction/Adduction of the Vocal Ligaments Movements occur
Cricoarytenoid Joint
Adducts Vocal Folds (posterior portions) by closing posterior portion of the glottis
Transverse arytenoid
Name the motor and General Sensation to the Larynx
via two branches of the Vagus Nerve CN X
- Superior Laryngeal Nerve divided into two branches: Internal Laryngeal Branch (Nerve) and external laryngeal branch (Nerve)-
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
General Sensation-Upper and Middle Larynx
Internal Laryngeal Branch of the Superior Laryngeal Nerve
General Sensation to the Lower Larynx
Recurrent Laryngeal N.
Motor Innervation-All Laryngeal Intrinsic Muscles Except Cricothyroid
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Motor Innervation-Cricothyroid
External Laryngeal branch of the Superior Laryngeal Nerve
Trachea-General Characteristics (Adult)
4” in length
1” in diameter
~20 C-Shaped Cartilaginous rings
Trachea begins at ________and ends at tracheal bifurcation
C6
