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ANAT 316 > The Pharynx and Larynx > Flashcards

The Pharynx and Larynx Flashcards

1
Q

Function of Pharynx

A

-Shared passageway for both air and food
-Provides a resonating chamber for speech sounds
-Houses tonsils, which serve immunological functions

*extends from choanae (internal nares) to C6

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2
Q

Divisions of Pharynx (3)

A
  1. Nasopharynx (superior portion)
  2. Oropharynx (middle portion)
  3. Laryngopharynx (inferior portion)
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3
Q

Nasopharynx Borders

A

Superior: Choanae
Posterior: Vertebral bodies
Anterior/Inferior: Soft palate and Oropharynx

*Respiratory function

Key features:
-Soft palate
-Openings to eustachian tube
-Adenoid (pharyngeal tonsil)

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4
Q

Soft Palate

A

Forms posterior roof of mouth (continuous with hard palate)

-Arch shaped muscular partition b/t nasopharynx and oropharynx

*contracts to close the nasopharynx when swallowing
“Don’t eat and talk”

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5
Q

Eustachian Tube

A

-Narrow passage between the nasopharynx and middle ear
-Allows air exchange to equalize pressure between these areas

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6
Q

Adenoid

A

-Patch of lymphoid tissue on the superior posterior wall
-Typically atrophies and shrinks significantly by adulthood

‘Pharyngeal tonsil’

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7
Q

Oropharynx Borders

A

Superior: Nasopharynx
Inferior: Laryngopharynx
Posterior: Vertebral bodies
Anterior: Fauces (throat)/oral cavity

*Respiratory and digestive functions

Key Features:
-Palatine tonsils
-Lingual tonsils

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8
Q

Oropharyngeal Tonsils

A

Patches of lymphoid tissue
-Lingual tonsils
-Palatine tonsils

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9
Q

Laryngopharynx Borders

A

Superior: Oropharynx
Inferior: Larynx and esophagus
Posterior: Vertebral bodies

*Respiratory and digestive functions

Key Features:
-Laryngeal inlet
-Piriform fossae (recesses)

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10
Q

Laryngopharynx Features

A

Laryngeal inlet: entrance to the larynx

Piriform fossa (recess): groove on either side of the laryngeal inlet

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11
Q

Pharynx Epithelium

A

Nasopharynx:
-Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium (respiratory epithelium)

Oropharynx and Laryngopharynx:
-Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium

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12
Q

Pharyngeal Muscles (3)

A

Outer Circular Layer:
1. Superior Constrictor (4)
2. Middle Constrictor (2)
3. Inferior Constrictor (2)

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13
Q

Superior Constrictor

A

Location: surrounds the oropharynx

Function: constricts the upper portion of the pharynx to facilitate swallowing

*4 fibres/attachments

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14
Q

Middle Constrictor

A

Location: surrounds the laryngopharynx

Function: constricts the middle portion of the pharynx to facilitate swallowing

*2 fibres/attachments

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15
Q

Inferior Constrictor

A

Location: surrounds the laryngopharynx

Function: constricts the lower portion of the pharynx to facilitate swallowing
-forms the upper esophageal sphincter

*2 fibres/attachments

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16
Q

Pharyngeal Muscle Attachments

A

Occipital bone- superior constrictor

Pharyngeal raphe- superior, middle and inferior

‘Raphe’= groove or ridge

17
Q

Deep View to Superior Constrictor

A

Deep to superior constrictor, visible in posterior view= nasal conchae and nasal septum

18
Q

Innervation of Pharyngeal Muscles

A

Motor: CN X (vagus)
Sensory: CN IX (glossopharyngeal)

19
Q

Clinical Connection: Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A

Repetitive collapse/closure of pharynx during sleep, many etiologies including anatomical variations of pharynx

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)= surgery to fix

20
Q

Larynx

A

-Short passageway that connects the laryngopharynx with the trachea
-Anterior to C4-C7

Function:
-Valve to close trachea
-Voice production (via vocal cords)

21
Q

Structure of Larynx

A

Consists of cartilage structure: *superior to inferior

  1. Epiglottis (single)
  2. Thyroid cartilage (single)
  3. Arytenoid cartilage (pair)
  4. Cricoid cartilage (single)

Superior= hyoid bone
Inferior= trachea

22
Q

Epiglottis

A

-Leaf shaped piece of elastic cartilage
-Covered with epithelium
-“Stalk” is attached to thyroid cartilage
-“Leaf” is unattached

Function:
-Closes off larynx when swallowing (moves down and forms a lid over opening to larynx)

23
Q

Thyroid Cartilage

A

-Largest cartilage of larynx
-Form upper and anterior walls
-2 fused plates of hyaline cartilage

Function:
Protect and support the vocal cords

*Laryngeal prominence= Adam’s Apple

24
Q

Cricoid Cartilage

A

-Ring of hyaline cartilage
-Forms inferior wall of larynx

Function:
-Maintains airway opening

*Landmark for making an emergency airway

25
Q

Arytenoid Cartilage

A

-Triangular pieces of mostly hyaline cartilage
-Sit on cricoid cartilage

Function:
-Influence movement (tension and relaxation) of vocal folds

26
Q

Laryngeal Ligaments (3)

A

Support the cartilaginous skeleton of larynx

Extrinsic- attach larynx to external structures
1. Thyrohyoid membrane (medial and lateral thyrohyoid ligaments)
2. Cricotracheal ligament

Intrinsic- attach cartilages within the larynx
1. Cricothyroid ligament

27
Q

True and False Vocal Cords

A

Mucous membrane of larynx forms 2 pairs of folds:

Superior= vestibular folds (“false” vocal cords)
-Protects the vocal folds

Inferior= vocal folds
(“true” vocal cords)
-Principle structure of voice production

28
Q

Cavity of Larynx (5 Components)

A
  1. Vestibule- from inlet to vestibular folds (“false cords”)
  2. Glottis- from vestibular folds to vocal folds (“true cords”)
  3. Rima glottidis- gap between vocal folds, opening to infraglottic cavity
  4. Infraglottic cavity (space)- below vocal folds
  5. Trachea
29
Q

Action of Vocal Cords

A

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles attach to cartilages and vocal folds

During respiration: abduct/open (allows for passage of air)

During swallowing:
adduct/close (to prevent food/liquid from entering)

During phonation: adduct and alter tension of vocal cords

30
Q

Clinical Connection: Hiccups

A

Hiccups are caused from the diaphragm spasming, which closes the glottis and decreases air flow

31
Q

Vocal Resonance

A

Larynx and pharynx are resonating chambers for speech

Reverberation of sound waves from vibrating vocal folds resonate in chambers and produce sound

32
Q

Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles

A

Act on individual components of larynx
-Control shape of rima glottidis
-Control length and tension of vocal folds

  1. Cricothyroid
  2. Thyroarytenoid
  3. Posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid
  4. Transverse and oblique arytenoid
33
Q

Cricothyroid Muscle

A

Functions to stretch and tense vocal ligament

Known as “singers muscle” as it alters tone of voice

34
Q

Thyroarytenoid Muscle

A

Functions to relax vocal ligament

35
Q

Posterior and Lateral Cricoarytenoid

A

Posterior: functions as sole ABDUCTOR of vocal folds (widens rima glottidis/pulls apart)

Lateral: functions as major ADDUCTOR of vocal folds (narrows rima glottidis/pulls together)

36
Q

Transverse and Oblique Arytenoid

A

Functions to adduct arytenoid cartilage, narrows rima glottidis to modulate tone and volume of speech

Oblique= crosses
Transverse= straight

37
Q

Innervation of Larynx

A
  1. Superior Laryngeal Nerve:
    a) Internal laryngeal nerve-> Sensory -> Above vocal cords
    b) External laryngeal nerve-> Motor-> Cricothyroid
  2. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
    a) Sensory= below vocal cords
    b) Motor= all except cricothyroid

ANAT 316 (22 decks)

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