Unit II: Larynx

Question 1

3 functions of the larynx

Answer 1

1. prevents the passage of food and liquids into the airway during swallowing
2. regulates the flow of air into the lungs
3. vocalization

Question 2

Location of the Larynx

Answer 2

C3- C6 (drops during development)

Question 3

What are the 6 cartilages that make up the larynx?

Answer 3

Thyroid, cricoid, epiglottic, arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform

Question 4

What feature of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx makes the “Adam’s Apple”?

Answer 4

The Laryngeal Prominence

Question 5

The oblique line on the thyroid cartilage is an attachment for what muscles?

Answer 5

inferior constrictor, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid

Question 6

The epiglottic cartilage is held to they laryngeal prominence by _________ ligament.

Answer 6

Thyroepiglottic ligament

Question 7

• What are the two processes present on the arytenoid cartilage?

Answer 7

Vocal and muscular processes

Question 8

Which two cartilages of the larynx may ossify and be confused as fractures on x-rays?

Answer 8

corniculate and cuneiform

Question 9

What are the two joints of the larynx?

Answer 9

Cricothyroid and Cricoarytenoid

Question 10

Which laryngeal joint allows for rotations of the thyroid cartilage around a horizontal access and why is this important?

Answer 10

Cricothyroid joint; really important for voice pitch

Question 11

What is the function of the cricoarytenoid laryngeal joint?

Answer 11

gliding and rotation of the arytenoid cartilage on the cricoid cartilage

Question 12

What are the ligaments of the larynx?

Answer 12

Thyrohyoid membrane, median cricothyroid ligament, vocal ligament, conus elasticus, and quadrangular membrane

Question 13

The thyrohyoid membrane is pierced by what two structures?

Answer 13

the internal laryngeal nerve and the superior laryngeal vessels

Question 14

What ligament forms the free edge of the conus elasticus membrane?

Answer 14

The vocal ligament

Question 15

What are the two margins formed by the quadrangular membrane?

Answer 15

Superior margin and inferior margin

Question 16

Which margin of the quadrangular membrane forms the aryepiglottic ligament?

Answer 16

Superior margins

Question 17

Which margin of the quadrangular membrane forms the vestibular ligament?

Answer 17

Inferior margin

Question 18

What are the two folds of the larynx and what are their generic names?

Answer 18

Vestibular fold (False Vocal Cord) and Vocal Fold (True Vocal Cord)

Question 19

What is the space between the vestibular folds called?

Answer 19

Rima Vestibuli

Question 20

What is the space between the vocal folds called?

Answer 20

Rima Glottidis

Question 21

• What are the two important functions of the rima glottidis?

Answer 21

It is the narrowest part of the laryngeal cavity which 1) creates a flow of air to produce sound and 2) prevents choking

Question 22

What two features form the Glottis?

Answer 22

The rima glottidis and vocal folds

Question 23

What are the three cavities of the larynx?

Answer 23

The laryngeal vestibule, the laryngeal ventricles and the infraglottic cavity

Question 24

What are the boundaries of the laryngeal vestibule?

Answer 24

laryngeal inlet to the vestibular folds

Question 25

What are the boundaries of the laryngeal ventricles?

Answer 25

vestibular folds to vocal folds

Question 26

What are the boundaries of the infraglottic cavity?

Answer 26

vocal folds to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage

Question 27

What is the laryngeal saccule?

Answer 27

A small diverticulum within the laryngeal ventricle.

Question 28

What is the clinical significance of the laryngeal saccule?

Answer 28

In hoarseness due to excessive speaking or singing, secretions or lubrication from the laryngeal saccule is temporarily depleted.

Question 29

What muscles elevate the larynx?

Answer 29

Thyrohyoid, stylohyoid, digastric, stylopharyngeus, and palatopharyngeus

Question 30

What muscles depress the larynx?

Answer 30

Omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid

Question 31

Which muscles puts increased tension on the vocal ligament and as a result increases the pitch of voice?

Answer 31

cricothyroid muscle

Question 32

What is the largest and biggest intrinsic laryngeal muscle?

Answer 32

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

Question 33

What is the neutral position of the vocal folds and why is this clinically significant?

Answer 33

Vocal folds are partially abducted; prevents suffocation

Question 34

Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle is used for whispering?

Answer 34

Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

Question 35

Which muscles work together for coughing by causing arytenoid cartilage to slide together?

Answer 35

Transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles

Question 36

Which muscles is a continuation of the oblique arytenoid and is used for swallowing?

Answer 36

aryepiglottic muscle

Question 37

Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle is used to lower the pitch of voice?

Answer 37

thyroarytenoid muscle

Question 38

Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle is used for fine-tuning control of the vocal cord?

Answer 38

vocalis muscle

Question 39

All intrinsic muscles of the larynx (except 1) are supplied by what nerve?

Answer 39

Recurrent Laryngeal nerve

Question 40

Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle is not supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve and what is its special innervation?

Answer 40

Cricothyroid, external laryngeal nerve

Question 41

What three features determine voice dimorphism?

Answer 41

length of vocal cords, size of resonating chamber, and thickness of vocal cords

Question 42

What is the most important nerve of the larynx?

Answer 42

recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 43

Along with the superior laryngeal artery, what nerve pierces the thyrohyoid membrane?

Answer 43

internal laryngeal nerve

Question 44

What two arteries supply the larynx and where to they branch from?

Answer 44

Superior Laryngeal Artery (Superior Thyroid artery) and Inferior Laryngeal Artery (Inferior thyroid artery)