The Larynx Flashcards
What is the primary function of the larynx?
To keep food and liquid from entering the lungs
What is the larynx suspended by?
The hyoid bone
What muscles suspend the hyoid bone?
Supra- and infra- hyoid muscles
What structure is known as the “Adam’s Apple?
The laryngeal prominence
What vertebrae lie posterior to the larynx?
C4-C6
What structure is at the superior and posterior part of the oropharnyx that forms a partial dam at the back of the tongue?
Epiglottis
The arytenoid cartilages sit on top of what lamina?
The cricoid lamina
What ligaments extend for the vocal process of the arytenoids to the posterior aspect of what?
vocal ligaments; thyroid cartilage
What structure’s upper limit becomes the vocal ligament?
Conus Elasticus
What cartilage sits at the apex of the arytenoid?
Corniculate Cartilage
The pharyngeal inlet is a vertical ridge extending between what structures?
From the epiglottis (around the aryepiiglottic folds) to the arytenoid cartilage (and internarytenoid notch)
What cave-like structure is between the vestibular fold and the vocal fold?
Laryngeal Ventricle
What is the primary movement of the vocal ligaments and folds?
abduction and adduction movements
The supraglottic space extends from what structures?
From the laryngeal inlet to the vestibular folds
What structure includes the vocal folds and the space between them?
The glottis
The infraglottic space extends from what structures?
The vocals folds to the inferior aspect of the cricoid cartilage; where the trachea begins
What nerve supplies the vocal folds and what fibers does it contribute?
Vagus Nerve; Sensory and parasympathetic motor innervation
What innervates above the vocal folds?
Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
What innervates below the vocal folds?
Inferior laryngeal nerve
The inferior laryngeal nerve is a terminal brach of what other nerve?
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
What is the epithelium of the vocal folds and vestibular folds?
Stratified squamous; pseudo stratified ciliated columnar
What is the most important function of the larynx?
Provide a valve to protect against the entrance of foreign materials during breathing or swallowing
What position must the vocal folds be in to the production of sounds?
Adducted
The larynx creates a _________ (sound), while the vocal folds create _________ (sound)
Tone; speech
The cricothyroid muscles are located on the external surface of the larynx in the space between what 2 cartilages?
Thyroid and Cricoid cartilages
Contraction of the cricothyroid pulls down on what structure?
Thyroid cartilage
What happens when the thyroid cartilage is moved?
It increases the distance b/t the anterior and posterior attachments of the vocal ligaments
(T/F) Increasing tension on the ligaments will increase vocal fold length
True
(T/F) Increasing tension leads to sounds with a lower pitch.
False. Higher pitch
What innervates the cricothyroid muscle?
Superior Laryngeal Nerve
What muscle antagonizes the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles?
Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
What function do the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles have?
Adduction of the vocal folds, contracting the glottis to close during talking or coughing
What mucosa covers the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?
Laryngopharynx mucosa
What is the function of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?
Abduction of the vocal processes; they keep the airway open almost constantly
What is the phenomena of the rapid flow of air causing a decrease in pressure?
Venturi Effect
What 3 parts of the airway uses sound to make speech
Pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity
What 5 characteristics control the vibration of vocal folds?
Level of adduction, thickness of the vocal folds, length of the vocal folds, tension on the vocal folds, and breath
What are the 2 parts of the glottis?
Intermembranous glottis and intercartilaginous glottis
What makes up the intermembranous glottis?
True vocal folds and the space between them
What makes up the intercartilaginous glottis?
Vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages and the space between them
What is the space between the vocal folds called?
Rima Glottidis
What is the quadrangular membrane, where is it, and where does it extend?
Layer of CT lying beneath the mucosa of the vestibule; extends from lateral edge of epiglottis to the vestibular ligament
What nerve innervates the larynx?
CN 10 (Vagus)
What types of nerves extend out to the blood vessels?
Postganglionic Sympathetic Nerves
What nerve innervates the cricothyroid muscle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle?
External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
What does the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve innervate?
Provides sensory and parasympathetic innervateion to mucosa and glands of tongue, anterior and posterior epiglottic folds, laryngeal inlet, and vestibule to the vocal folds
The inferior laryngeal nerve is a termination of what other nerve?
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
What innervation does the inferior laryngeal nerve give?
BE to intrinsic laryngeal muscles (except cricothyroid)
GSA to vocal folds
GVE to glands below vocal folds
