The Larynx

Question 1

What is the primary function of the larynx?

Answer 1

To keep food and liquid from entering the lungs

Question 2

What is the larynx suspended by?

Answer 2

The hyoid bone

Question 3

What muscles suspend the hyoid bone?

Answer 3

Supra- and infra- hyoid muscles

Question 4

What structure is known as the “Adam’s Apple?

Answer 4

The laryngeal prominence

Question 5

What vertebrae lie posterior to the larynx?

Answer 5

C4-C6

Question 6

What structure is at the superior and posterior part of the oropharnyx that forms a partial dam at the back of the tongue?

Answer 6

Epiglottis

Question 7

The arytenoid cartilages sit on top of what lamina?

Answer 7

The cricoid lamina

Question 8

What ligaments extend for the vocal process of the arytenoids to the posterior aspect of what?

Answer 8

vocal ligaments; thyroid cartilage

Question 9

What structure’s upper limit becomes the vocal ligament?

Answer 9

Conus Elasticus

Question 10

What cartilage sits at the apex of the arytenoid?

Answer 10

Corniculate Cartilage

Question 11

The pharyngeal inlet is a vertical ridge extending between what structures?

Answer 11

From the epiglottis (around the aryepiiglottic folds) to the arytenoid cartilage (and internarytenoid notch)

Question 12

What cave-like structure is between the vestibular fold and the vocal fold?

Answer 12

Laryngeal Ventricle

Question 13

What is the primary movement of the vocal ligaments and folds?

Answer 13

abduction and adduction movements

Question 14

The supraglottic space extends from what structures?

Answer 14

From the laryngeal inlet to the vestibular folds

Question 15

What structure includes the vocal folds and the space between them?

Answer 15

The glottis

Question 16

The infraglottic space extends from what structures?

Answer 16

The vocals folds to the inferior aspect of the cricoid cartilage; where the trachea begins

Question 17

What nerve supplies the vocal folds and what fibers does it contribute?

Answer 17

Vagus Nerve; Sensory and parasympathetic motor innervation

Question 18

What innervates above the vocal folds?

Answer 18

Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Question 19

What innervates below the vocal folds?

Answer 19

Inferior laryngeal nerve

Question 20

The inferior laryngeal nerve is a terminal brach of what other nerve?

Answer 20

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Question 21

What is the epithelium of the vocal folds and vestibular folds?

Answer 21

Stratified squamous; pseudo stratified ciliated columnar

Question 22

What is the most important function of the larynx?

Answer 22

Provide a valve to protect against the entrance of foreign materials during breathing or swallowing

Question 23

What position must the vocal folds be in to the production of sounds?

Answer 23

Adducted

Question 24

The larynx creates a _________ (sound), while the vocal folds create _________ (sound)

Answer 24

Tone; speech

Question 25

The cricothyroid muscles are located on the external surface of the larynx in the space between what 2 cartilages?

Answer 25

Thyroid and Cricoid cartilages

Question 26

Contraction of the cricothyroid pulls down on what structure?

Answer 26

Thyroid cartilage

Question 27

What happens when the thyroid cartilage is moved?

Answer 27

It increases the distance b/t the anterior and posterior attachments of the vocal ligaments

Question 28

(T/F) Increasing tension on the ligaments will increase vocal fold length

Answer 28

True

Question 29

(T/F) Increasing tension leads to sounds with a lower pitch.

Answer 29

False. Higher pitch

Question 30

What innervates the cricothyroid muscle?

Answer 30

Superior Laryngeal Nerve

Question 31

What muscle antagonizes the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles?

Answer 31

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles

Question 32

What function do the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles have?

Answer 32

Adduction of the vocal folds, contracting the glottis to close during talking or coughing

Question 33

What mucosa covers the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?

Answer 33

Laryngopharynx mucosa

Question 34

What is the function of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?

Answer 34

Abduction of the vocal processes; they keep the airway open almost constantly

Question 35

What is the phenomena of the rapid flow of air causing a decrease in pressure?

Answer 35

Venturi Effect

Question 36

What 3 parts of the airway uses sound to make speech

Answer 36

Pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity

Question 37

What 5 characteristics control the vibration of vocal folds?

Answer 37

Level of adduction, thickness of the vocal folds, length of the vocal folds, tension on the vocal folds, and breath

Question 38

What are the 2 parts of the glottis?

Answer 38

Intermembranous glottis and intercartilaginous glottis

Question 39

What makes up the intermembranous glottis?

Answer 39

True vocal folds and the space between them

Question 40

What makes up the intercartilaginous glottis?

Answer 40

Vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages and the space between them

Question 41

What is the space between the vocal folds called?

Answer 41

Rima Glottidis

Question 42

What is the quadrangular membrane, where is it, and where does it extend?

Answer 42

Layer of CT lying beneath the mucosa of the vestibule; extends from lateral edge of epiglottis to the vestibular ligament

Question 43

What nerve innervates the larynx?

Answer 43

CN 10 (Vagus)

Question 44

What types of nerves extend out to the blood vessels?

Answer 44

Postganglionic Sympathetic Nerves

Question 45

What nerve innervates the cricothyroid muscle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle?

Answer 45

External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Question 46

What does the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve innervate?

Answer 46

Provides sensory and parasympathetic innervateion to mucosa and glands of tongue, anterior and posterior epiglottic folds, laryngeal inlet, and vestibule to the vocal folds

Question 47

The inferior laryngeal nerve is a termination of what other nerve?

Answer 47

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Question 48

What innervation does the inferior laryngeal nerve give?

Answer 48

BE to intrinsic laryngeal muscles (except cricothyroid) GSA to vocal folds GVE to glands below vocal folds