The larynx Flashcards
What are the superior and inferior borders of the larynx?
Hyoid bone and cricoid cartilage
What structure is immediately superior to the cricoid cartilage?
Thyroid cartilage
What are the 4 key parts of the thyroid cartilage?
Superior horn
Inferior horn
Lamina
Laryngeal prominence
What are the 4 membranes of the larynx?
Thyrohyoid membrane
Cricothyroid membrane
Cricovocal membrane
Aryepiglottic membrane
What vertebral levels does the larynx span?
C2 – C7
What is the primary function of the larynx?
To protect the tracheobronchial tree
What are the 2 processes of the arytenoids?
Vocal process and muscular process
The arytenoid cartilages attach to what via what kind of joint?
The cricoid cartilage via a synovial joint
What are the attachement points of the cricovocal membrane?
Passes from the cricoid cartilage to the vocal process of arytenoids
The vocal ligaments are formed by what?
The free upper border of the cricovocal membrane
The vestibular ligaments are formed by what?
The free lower border of the aryepiglottic membrane
When are the vestibular ligament and vocal ligament called vestibular fold and vocal fold?
When covered with mucosa
The aryepiglottic fold forms what?
The upper edge of the laryngeal inlet
What happens when the aryepiglottic muscle contracts?
It reduces the size of the laryngeal inlet
All motor and sensory innervation to the larynx is via which CN?
X – vagus
What are the 2 main laryngeal nerves which branch off the vagus nerve?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Superior laryngeal nerve
What are the branches of the superior laryngeal nerve?
Internal laryngeal nerve
External laryngeal nerve
What is the function of the internal laryngeal nerve?
Provides sensory innervation above the vocal folds
What is the function of the external laryngeal nerve?
Provides motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle
What is the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Provides sensory below vocal folds and motor to all laryngeal muscles except for the cricothyroid
What effect will contraction of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle have on the vocal ligaments?
Abducts vocal ligaments
What effect will contraction of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle have on the vocal ligaments?
Adducts vocal ligaments
What is the function of the thyroarytenoid and vocalis muscle?
Pulls arytenoid cartilage anteriorly & thyroid cartilage posteriorly and superiorly to relax vocal folds and lowers pitch of voice
Which muscle aids in raising the pitch of your voice?
Cricothyroid muscle
How would damage to the superior laryngeal nerve affect your voice?
Would become monotonous, especially when singing
