Trachea + Larynx

Question 1

Name the three major regions of the larynx?

Answer 1

Vestibule, middle, infraglottic space

Question 2

Name the v shaped space between the vestibular ligaments

Answer 2

Rima vestibuli

Question 3

Name the v shaped cavity between the vocal ligaments

Answer 3

Rima glottidis

Question 4

What vertebral level would you find the carina?

Answer 4

T4-5, sternal angle, thoracic plane

Question 5

What vertebral levels are the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage respectively?

Answer 5

C4-5 and C6

Question 6

What CN innervates the larynx?

Answer 6

Vagus (X)

Question 7

What is a Pancoast tumour and why would it produce a hoarse voice?

Answer 7

Tumour in the apex of the lung, in the right side, it might compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve and paralyse of the vocal cords

Question 8

What specific branch of nerve supplies the cricoid cartilage?

Answer 8

Superior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve (X)

Question 9

What does the larynx allow for during valsalva manoeuvre?

Answer 9

Rise in intra abdominal pressure

Question 10

What vertebral level would you describe the larynx as?

Answer 10

C3-C6

Question 11

How many cartilages make up the larynx?

Answer 11

9

Question 12

What bone is the larynx suspended from?

Answer 12

Hyoid

Question 13

How does the hyoid bone attach to the skull?

Answer 13

The stylohyoid ligament attaches from the styloid process to the horns of the hyoid.

Question 14

Name the three unpaired cartilages of the larynx

Answer 14

Thyroid, cricoid and epiglottis

Question 15

Name the three paired cartilages of the larynx

Answer 15

Arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform

Question 16

What about the larynx is more prominent in males?

Answer 16

The laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple)

Question 17

What membrane forms the vocal ligaments?

Answer 17

Cricothyroid membrane

Question 18

What lies between the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone?

Answer 18

Thyrohyoid membrane

Question 19

What type of epithelial cells cover the vocal chords?

Answer 19

Stratified squamous epithelium (non-keratinising)

Question 20

What is the rima glottidis also known as?

Answer 20

True vocal chords

Question 21

When will the rima glottidis be completely abducted?

Answer 21

Forced inspiration

Question 22

What will the rima glottidis look like at rest?

Answer 22

Partially adducted

Question 23

What will the rima glottidis look like during swallowing?

Answer 23

Completely adducted

Question 24

What muscle is vital in abduction of the vocal chords, what would happens if this muscle was paralysed?

Answer 24

Posterior-cricoarytenoid, asphyxiation

Question 25

What branch of the vagus nerve supplies the majority of motor supply to the laryngeal muscles?

Answer 25

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 26

Where does the recurrent laryngeal nerve branch off the vagus nerve on the left side?

Answer 26

Arch of the aorta

Question 27

Where does the recurrent laryngeal nerve branch off the vagus nerve on the right side?

Answer 27

Proximal end of the right subclavian artery

Question 28

Tumours involving the hilum of the lung might have what symptom?

Answer 28

Hoarse voice, left vocal cord palsy due the compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 29

What are the signs and symptoms of bilateral vocal cord palsy and what might cause it?

Answer 29

Respiratory distress, caused by viral infection, cervical spine surgery and thyroid surgery.

Question 30

Which muscle of the pharynx is attached to the hyoid bone?

Answer 30

Middle constrictor

Question 31

What vertebral level is the hyoid bone?

Answer 31

C3

Question 32

What muscles are involved in the adduction of the vocal chords?

Answer 32

cricothyroid, thyroarytenoids, transverse arytenoids, oblique arytenoids, lateral cricoarytenoids

Question 33

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 33

Phonation, raises intra-abdominal pressure, directs food into the oesophagus and away from the trachea

Question 34

Describe the cartilage structure in the trachea

Answer 34

C-shaped hyaline cartilage, smooth muscle joining the two sides.

Question 35

What glands in the trachea help secrete mucus?

Answer 35

Seromucous acinar

Question 36

Describe the cartilage structure in the brochi

Answer 36

Complete rings (extrapulmonary), incomplete rings (intrapulmonary)

Question 37

Where is a tracheostomy usually placed?

Answer 37

1-2cm inferior to the cricoid cartilage