The larynx

Question 1

What is the larynx composed of?

Answer 1

-Skeleton of articulating cartilages that form superstructure for valve that separates airway from gut.

Question 2

What forms a complete ring around the cranial end of the trachea?

Answer 2

Cricoid.

• Arytenoid cartilages loosely attach to postero-superior margin
• thyroid cartilage articulates with lateral aspects.

Question 3

What is the function of arytenoids? What are the 3 different process?

Answer 3

They form pivots that move blades by valve

• They are 3-sided pyramids that slide and pivot on cricoid.
• posterolateral angle is a muscular process where most adductors of cords attached.
• anteromedial angle is the vocal process where vocal ligaments attach.
• Superior angle is attachment for the aryepiglottic fold (reinforced by small cartilages, Corniculates)

Question 4

What is the function of the thyroid?

Answer 4

• It protects the front wall of larynx
• a large plate that pivots on cricoid at synovial joints.
• suspends from hyoid by thyrohyoid ligament
• forms rigid attachment to inferior constrictor so it can contribute to peristalsis without crushing skeleton of airway

Question 5

What are the local ligaments?

Answer 5

Attach on the internal surface so pivoting thyroid on cricoid can tense or slacken vocal ligaments.

Question 6

What is the epiglottis?

Answer 6

accessory to olfaction by forming with palate a near separate airway from nares to glottis (Vocal cords)

• it’s a leaf-shaped cartilage whose stem attaches to internal surface of thyroid (just superior to the vocal ligament)
• Lean posteriorly forming a lean-to over glottis
• with aryepiglottic folds, forms a stand-pipe around glottis

Question 7

What are the 3 compartments of the larynx?

Answer 7

• Vestibule
• Ventricle
• infraglottic space

Question 8

What is the vestibule bounded by:

Answer 8

• epiglottis anteriorly
• Quadrangular membrane (membrane spanning from epiglottis to arytenoid) laterally
• Vestibular folds (False cords) inferiorly which are formed by the free inferior border of the quadrangular membrane.

Question 9

What is the ventricle? and what is the saccule?

Answer 9

Its the space between vestibular and vocal folds

-saccule is the lateral extension of the ventricle

Question 10

What is the infraglottic space bounded by?:

Answer 10

• cricothyroid ligament (Conus elasticus)
• the vocal ligament is the free top edge of conus elasticus and forms the skeleton of the vocal fold.
• Cricoid cartilage forms the inferior aspect of space.

Question 11

What is the rima glottidis?

Answer 11

-its the space between vocal folds