The Larynx And Hypopharynx

Question 1

What are the three principal cartilages of the larynx?

Answer 1

The soft tissue of the larynx are draped over the supporting cartilaginous framework of the cricoid, thyroid, and arytenoid cartilages.

Question 2

What cartilage serves as a lid to they laryngealy “box”?

Answer 2

Epiglottis cartilage

Question 3

It is the largest laryngeal cartilage.

Answer 3

Thyroid cartilage

Question 4

The superior aspect of the thyroid cartilage is indented you a V-shaped thyroid notch, called what?

Answer 4

Superior thyroid notch

This notch can appear on axial imaging to represent destroyed cartilage if laryngeal tumor is present.

Question 5

What are the landmarks that signal the transition from the oropharynx above to the larynx and hypopharynx below?

Answer 5

Glossoepiglottic and pharyngoepiglottic folds

Question 6

This is the only complete ring in the endolarynx and trachea.

Answer 6

Cricoid cartilage

It provides stability to the cartilaginous edifice of the larynx with its structural integrity.

Question 7

What are the two portions of the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 7

The posterior lamina and the anterior arch.

Question 8

These are paired, pyramidal cartilages that sit atop the posterior cricoid cartilage lamina.

Answer 8

Arytenoid cartilages

Question 9

These are anterior projections of the arytenoid cartilage.

Answer 9

Vocal processes

The posterior margins of the vocal cords attach to the vocal processes.

Question 10

When the upper margin of the cricoid cartilage is imaged simultaneously with the arytenoid cartilage in the axial plane, the ________ level is imaged.

Answer 10

The true vocal cord

Question 11

The endolarynx can be subdivided into what compartments?

Answer 11

Supraglottis, glottis, and subglottis.

Question 12

This extends from the tip of the epiglottis above to the laryngeal ventricles below.

Answer 12

Supraglottis

Question 13

Components of the supraglottis include what?

Answer 13

Vestibule
Epiglottis
Pre-epiglottic space
Aryepoglottic folds
False vocal cords
Paraglottic (paralaryngeal) space
Arytenoid cartilage

Question 14

This is the air space within the supraglottic larynx.

Answer 14

Laryngeal vestibule

Question 15

The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped cartilage that functions as a lid to the endolaryngeal “box”.

The “stem” of this leaf, which attaches the epiglottis to the thyroid lamina, is called what?

Answer 15

Petiole.

The petiole attaches to the thyroid cartilage via the thyroepiglottic ligament.

Question 16

The epiglottis is attached to the hyoid bone via _________.

Answer 16

The hyoepiglottic ligament.

Question 17

The ridge of mucous membrane over the hyoepiglottic ligament is called what?

Answer 17

Glossoepiglottic fold

This fold sits in the midline between the valleculae.

Question 18

These represents the mucosal surfaces of the laryngeal vestibule of the supraglottis.

Answer 18

False vocal cords

Beneath the false vocal cords are the paired paraglottic spaces.

Question 19

The arytenoid cartilage spans the supraglottis and glottis, although most of the cartilage is in the supraglottis.

The tissue projecting from the cephalad tip of the arytenoid cartilages to the inferolateral margin of the epiglottis is called what?

Answer 19

Aryepiglottic fold

This fold represents the superolateral margin of the supraglottis, separating it from the pyriform sinus (i.e., hypopharynx)

Question 20

What are the two spaces of the endolarynx where submucosa squamous cell carcinoma most frequently hides?

Are these two spaces separated by fascia border?

Answer 20

Paraglottic and pre-epiglottis spaces.

No fascia divides these two spaces. Consequently, SCCa can travel freely from one to the other.

Question 21

This includes the true vocal cords and both the anterior and posterior commissures.

Answer 21

Glottis

Question 22

These are the only soft-tissue structures in the glottis region.

Answer 22

True vocal cords

Question 23

This represents the midline, anterior meeting point of the true vocal cords.

Answer 23

Anterior commissure

Question 24

This is the mucosal surface on the anterior surface of the cricoid cartilage between the arytenoid cartilages.

Answer 24

Posterior commissure

Question 25

This extends from the undersurface of the true vocal cords above the inferior surface of the cricoid cartilage.

Answer 25

Subglottis