Week 11: Larynx and Pharynx Flashcards
Where is the larynx located?
From the epiglottis until the lower border of cricoid cartilage (C6)
The 3 main parts of the laryngeal skeleton
- Hyoid bone
- Thyroid cartilage
- Cricoid cartilage
Thyroid cartilage landmarks
On each side:
- Superior and inferior horns.
- Lamina
- Angle
The development of the thyroid is dependent on sex hormones. True or false?
True
The arytenoid cartilage sits ____________ on the cricoid cartilage. It has _______ processes. Name them.
posterolaterally
2 processes
Muscular process (away from centre line) Vocal process (towards centre line)
2 movements of arytenoid cartilages are
Swivel in their own axis and coming together
Vocal ligament attaches to what?
Vocal process of arytenoid cartilage and the angle of the thyroid.
What produces sound?
The vibration of the vocal ligaments pressing on each other with air moving through it.
What are the folds of the membrane in the larynx?
- Aryepiglottic fold
- False vocal cord (vestibular fold)
- Vocal cord (on top of vocal ligament)
Which muscle is the only muscle that contributes to abduction of the vocal ligaments?
Posterior cricoarytenoid m.
Which muscles contribute to adduction of the vocal ligaments?
- Lateral cricoarytenoid m.
- Oblique and transverse arytenoid m.
Which muscles contribute to lower pitch sounds (lax vocal cords)?
- Vocalis m.
- Thyroarytenoid m.
Which muscles contribute to higher pitch sounds (tight vocal cords)?
Cricothyroid m.
Branches of the vagus n. that go to innervate the larynx.
- Superior laryngeal n. : innervates the mucosa.
- External laryngeal n. (only innervates the cricothyroid m. )
- Recurrent laryngeal n. (mucosa + all intrinsic muscles except cricothyroid m.)
Vascular supply of larynx
Superior and inferior thyroid vessels.
What are the 3 areas of the pharynx?
Naso, oro and laryngo.
External sling muscles are
The constrictors. Superior, middle and inferior.
Cricopharyngeus m.
Small constrictor below the inferior constrictor, most texts consider it part of the inferior constrictor.
Internal layer of muscles (pharynx)
- Salpingopharyngeus
- Palatopharyngeus
- Stylopharyngeus
Nasopharynx
Floor: soft palate Walls: superior constrictor Features: - opening of auditory tube - pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) - salpingopharyngeus m.
Oropharynx
Roof: soft palate
Floor: posterior part of the tongue
Walls: superior and medial constrictor m.
Features:
- 2 arches (palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal)
- palatine tonsils
- vallecula (space between tongue and epiglottis)
Laryngopharynx
Located between epiglottis and oesophagus
Features:
- epiglottis (closing incomplete, cartilage)
- piriform recess (pathway for liquids)
- laryngeal inlet (larynx opening)
Main and supporting SENSORY nerves of the pharynx
Main: Glossopharyngeal n.
Support:
- vagus n. (internal laryngeal branch) inferiorly
- trigeminal n. (maxillary branch) superiorly
Main and supporting MOTOR nerves of the pharynx
Main: Vagus n.
Support: glossopharyngeal n. (innervating stylopharyngeus m.)
Muscles that elevate the soft palate, and why would they do that?
- Tensor vali palitini
- Levator vali palitini
They elevate the soft palate during swallowing and coughing to prevent food or particles entering the nasal cavity.
Muscles that depress the soft palate, and why would they do that?
- Palatoglossal m.
- Palatopharyngeus m.
They depress the soft palate during chewing to block the oral cavity, allowing free passage of air during breathing.
