The larynx Flashcards
What is the larynx made up off?
Composed of 9 cartilages connected by membranes, ligaments and associated muscles
It contains the vocal folds
What are the 2 roles of the larynx?
- Allows human beings to articulate sound and the vocal folds play a key role in phonation
- The larynx also protects the airway
Where is the larynx located?
Located in the anterior neck
Suspended from the thyrohyoid membrane
What 2 structure is the larynx suspended by and is that structure a part of the larynx?
Thyrohyoid membrane
It is not part of the larynx
The larynx is anterior to the L__________ and the o____________
Laryngopharynx and Oesophagus
Which part of the pharynx does the laryngeal inlet open into?
The laryngopharynx part
Where does the laryngeal cavity extend from and too?
From the laryngeal inlet to the cricoid cartilage
What is the Cartilaginous skeleton lined with?
Mucosa
What lies in the superior portion of the larynx?
The laryngeal inlet (which is continuous with the laryngopharynx)
What lies in the middle portion of the larynx?
The vestibular folds (“false vocal cords”)
The vocal folds (“true vocal cords”)
The vestibular folds are described as what type of vocal cords and why?
They are the “false vocal cords” because they do not vibrate when air passes through them
Which folds have a role in sound production?
The vocal folds NOT the vestibular folds
What are the 3 unpaired cartilages called?
- Epiglottis
- thyroid cartilage
- Cricoid cartilage
Describe the epiglottic cartilage
Flap of tissue that sits beneath the tongue at the back of the throat.
Leaf-like, unpaired Articulates with thyroid cartilage by elastic ligament
What articulates the thyroid cartilage with epiglottis?
The elastic ligament
What is the function of the epiglottis?
It gets pulled down to close the opening to the airway when food is passing down to the oesophagus (closes the laryngeal inlet)
Epiglottis is the flap that closes the entrance between the pharynx and the trachea when swallowing
What is the name of the point where the 2 lamina that make up the thyroid cartilage meet called?
the laryngeal prominence
What creates the Adams apple?
the laryngeal prominence
Which part of the thyroid cartilage articulates with the cricoid cartilage?
The inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage
Why do men have a larger Adams apple?
Beucaee during puberty hormones make the thyroid cartilage grow bigger in males
Do women have an Adams apple?
Yes but its not as prominent as male
Describe the cricoid cartilage
It is an unpaired cartilage and it is ring shaped
Describe the shape of the cricoid cartilage
It is ring shaped
Anteriorly it has an arch
Posteriorly it ha a lamina
It also has facets to be able to articulate with other cartilages
How does the cricoid bone articulate with other cartilages?
By the means of facets
What is the structure where the cricoid cartilage articulates with the aritonoid cartilage called?
The Cricoarytenoid joint
What is the structure where the cricoid cartilage articulates with the thyroid cartilage called?
Cricothyroid joint
Is the cricoid cartilage above or below the thyroid cartilage?
The cricoid is below the thyroid cartilage
Which carriage is completely closed and resembles a ring shape?
The cricoid cartilage
What is the only paired cartilage we need to know called?
The arytenoid cartilage
Describe the arytenoid cartilage
It is paired
Pyramid shaped
It has 3 processes
What are the 3 processes of the arytenoid cartilage called?
The superior process
The vocal process
The muscular process
Why is the vocal process important?
Important for connecting with the vocal cords