Week 2

Question 1

What are the functions of larynx

Answer 1

Airway protection
Phonation

Question 2

Laryngeal skeleton

Answer 2

9 cartilages:
3 single (thyroid (hyaline), cricoid(hyaline), epiglottis(elastic))
3 paired (arytenoid, corniculate and cuneiform)

Question 3

Attachments of the larynx

Answer 3

Thyrohyoid membrane- thyroid cartilage to hyoid bone
Cricotracheal ligament- cricoid cartilage to superior border of 1st tracheal cartilage

Question 4

Function of epiglottis

Answer 4

Mobile part of the larynx
When swallow epiglottis moves and covers airways, diverts food into oesophagus

Question 5

Vocal ligaments

Answer 5

Run from vocal process of arytenoid cartilage to thyroid cartilage
Free thickened edge of conus elasticus

Question 6

Vestibular ligaments

Answer 6

Free thickened edge of quadrangular membrane attached to arytenoid cartilage and thyroid cartilage
Quadrangular membrane runs from edge of epiglottis inferiorly down larynx
‘False vocal fold’

Question 7

Ventricle in larynx

Answer 7

Between vestibular fold and vocal fold

Question 8

Vestibule larynx

Answer 8

Above vestibular folds

Question 9

Infraglottic space

Answer 9

Beneath vocal folds

Question 10

Rima glottidis

Answer 10

Space between vocal ligaments

Question 11

Phonation

Answer 11

Vocal folds adducted and stridulating as air is forced between them
Vestibule open
Vibration of air causes sound

Question 12

Intrinsic muscles of larynx

Answer 12

Cricothyroid
Oblique and transverse arytenoid
Posterior crico-arytenoid
Lateral crico-arytenoid
Thyro-arytenoid

Question 13

Posterior crico-arytenoid function

Answer 13

Abduct vocal folds

Question 14

Lateral cricoarytenoid function

Answer 14

Adduct vocal folds

Question 15

Transverse arytenoid function

Answer 15

Adduction vocal folds

Question 16

Oblique arytenoid function

Answer 16

Adduction vocal folds

Question 17

Thyroarytenoid function

Answer 17

Shorten vocal ligaments

Question 18

Cricothyroid function

Answer 18

Lengthen vocal ligaments

Question 19

Cricothyroid muscle

Answer 19

Straight part and oblique part
Only laryngeal muscle innervated by external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (from vagus nerve)
Pulls thyroid cartilage anteriorly
Increases pitch
Lengthening and tightening vocal ligaments posteriorly

Question 20

What are the intrinsic laryngeal muscles except Cricothyroid innervated by

Answer 20

Recurrent laryngeal nerve/ inferior laryngeal nerve

Question 21

Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve

Answer 21

Sensory innervation of mucous membrane superior to and including vocal fold
Pierces thyrohyoid membrane

Question 22

Recurrent laryngeal nerves

Answer 22

The right recurrent laryngeal nerve loops under the right subclavian artery
The left recurrent laryngeal nerve loops under arch of the aorta
Sensory innervation of mucosa of infraglottic cavity- beneath vocal fold

Question 23

Posterior crico-arytenoid muscle

Answer 23

Increased abduction during increased respiration
Only muscle to abduct the vocal folds
Larger space for air to pass down into airways
Inserts into muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Question 24

Arterial Blood supply of larynx

Answer 24

Superior laryngeal artery pierces thyrohyoid membrane. Branch of superior thyroid artery which is a branch of external carotid artery which is a branch of the common carotid
Common carotid bifurcates at level of superior border of thyroid cartilage
Inferior laryngeal artery- inferior thyroid artery- thryocervical trunk comes from subclavian artery

Question 25

Venous drainage of larynx

Answer 25

Right and left
Internal jugular veins :
Superior thyroid vein -Superior laryngeal vein
Middle thyroid vein
Left brachiocephalic vein: inferior thyroid vein- inferior laryngeal vein

Question 26

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 26

Parasympathetic- bronchoconstriction
Sympathetic- bronchodilation

Question 27

Phrenic nerve

Answer 27

Pericardial branch- sensory innervation to pericardium
Motor innervation to diaphragm