The larynx

Question 1

What are the superior and inferior borders of the larynx?

Answer 1

Hyoid bone and cricoid cartilage

Question 2

What structure is immediately superior to the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 2

Thyroid cartilage

Question 3

What are the 4 key parts of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 3

Superior horn

Inferior horn

Lamina

Laryngeal prominence

Question 4

What are the 4 membranes of the larynx?

Answer 4

Thyrohyoid membrane

Cricothyroid membrane

Cricovocal membrane

Aryepiglottic membrane

Question 5

What vertebral levels does the larynx span?

Answer 5

C2 – C7

Question 6

What is the primary function of the larynx?

Answer 6

To protect the tracheobronchial tree

Question 7

What are the 2 processes of the arytenoids?

Answer 7

Vocal process and muscular process

Question 8

The arytenoid cartilages attach to what via what kind of joint?

Answer 8

The cricoid cartilage via a synovial joint

Question 9

What are the attachement points of the cricovocal membrane?

Answer 9

Passes from the cricoid cartilage to the vocal process of arytenoids

Question 10

The vocal ligaments are formed by what?

Answer 10

The free upper border of the cricovocal membrane

Question 11

The vestibular ligaments are formed by what?

Answer 11

The free lower border of the aryepiglottic membrane

Question 12

When are the vestibular ligament and vocal ligament called vestibular fold and vocal fold?

Answer 12

When covered with mucosa

Question 13

The aryepiglottic fold forms what?

Answer 13

The upper edge of the laryngeal inlet

Question 14

What happens when the aryepiglottic muscle contracts?

Answer 14

It reduces the size of the laryngeal inlet

Question 15

All motor and sensory innervation to the larynx is via which CN?

Answer 15

X – vagus

Question 16

What are the 2 main laryngeal nerves which branch off the vagus nerve?

Answer 16

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Superior laryngeal nerve

Question 17

What are the branches of the superior laryngeal nerve?

Answer 17

Internal laryngeal nerve

External laryngeal nerve

Question 18

What is the function of the internal laryngeal nerve?

Answer 18

Provides sensory innervation above the vocal folds

Question 19

What is the function of the external laryngeal nerve?

Answer 19

Provides motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle

Question 20

What is the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 20

Provides sensory below vocal folds and motor to all laryngeal muscles except for the cricothyroid

Question 21

What effect will contraction of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle have on the vocal ligaments?

Answer 21

Abducts vocal ligaments

Question 22

What effect will contraction of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle have on the vocal ligaments?

Answer 22

Adducts vocal ligaments

Question 23

What is the function of the thyroarytenoid and vocalis muscle?

Answer 23

Pulls arytenoid cartilage anteriorly & thyroid cartilage posteriorly and superiorly to relax vocal folds and lowers pitch of voice

Question 24

Which muscle aids in raising the pitch of your voice?

Answer 24

Cricothyroid muscle

Question 25

How would damage to the superior laryngeal nerve affect your voice?

Answer 25

Would become monotonous, especially when singing