Larynx

Question 1

Thyroid Cartilage

Answer 1

Unpaired cartilage. Largest of the laryngeal cartilages. Two quadrilateral laminae, opened posteriorly, and fuse anteriorly to form the laryngeal prominence. The thyroid cartilage diverges superiorly above the laryngeal prominence to form a v-shaped thyroid notch. Posterior border projects Superior and Inferior Horns

Question 2

Laryngeal prominence

Answer 2

“Adam’s apple”, formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage

Question 3

Thyroid Notch

Answer 3

v shaped notch of the thyroid cartilage superior to the laryngeal prominence

Question 4

Superior and inferior horns of thyroid cartilage

Answer 4

Posterior borders of thyroid cartilage; open in back

Question 5

Cricoid cartilage

Answer 5

Unparied. Signet ring-shaped cartilage (only cartilage that forms an entire ring). Signet is in the back (lamina), anterior band is the arch. Thicker and stronger than the thyroid cartilage. Forms interior of the larynx

Question 6

Arch

Answer 6

Anterior band of cricothyroid

Question 7

Lamina

Answer 7

Signet-ed band in back of cricothyroid cartilage

Question 8

Epiglottic Cartilage

Answer 8

Forms superior part of anterior wall and superior margin of the inlet of the larynx. Inferior end is attached to the thyroid cartilage via thyroepiglottic ligament

Question 9

Thyroepiglottic ligament

Answer 9

Connects thyroid cartilage to epiglottic cartilage

Question 10

Arytenoid Cartilage

Answer 10

Paired cartilages. Pyramidal-shaped with both vocal (anteromedial) and muscular processes (posterolateral). Apex is superior, base is inferior. Important for vocal cords

Question 11

Corniculate Cartilage

Answer 11

Paired cartilages. Small cartilage nodules in the aryepiglottic fold; lie on the apex of the arytenoid cartilage. Support the aryepiglottic fold

Question 12

Cuneiform Cartilage

Answer 12

Paired cartilages. Small cartilage nodules in aryepiglottic fold. Support the aryepiglottic fold

Question 13

Cricothyroid Joint

Answer 13

Synovial joint. Fibrous capsule, enages in rotation and gliding motion. Joint between the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage and the lateral surface of the cricoid cartilage. Tilt anterior/posteriorly: back and forth, some rotation

Question 14

Cricoarytenoid Joint

Answer 14

Synovial joint, plane type. Can rotate, anterior, posterior side to side. Allow for vocal cords to move (not turn all around).

Question 15

Thyrohyoid Membrane

Answer 15

Extrinsic ligament of the larynx connecting the thyroid cartilage with the hyoid bone. Suspends the larynx from the hyoid bone. Internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery pierce this membrane to enter the larynx

Question 16

Cricotracheal Ligament

Answer 16

Ligament of the larynx connecting the cricoid cartilage to the first tracheal ring.

Question 17

Cricothyroid Ligament

Answer 17

Ligament of the larynx connecting the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage. Has a median portion and twin lateral portions surrounding it.

Question 18

Median cricothyroid ligament

Answer 18

Point where the skin is closest to the airway. Most accessible for an emergency cricothryoidotomy.

Question 19

Vocal ligament (fold)

Answer 19

True vocal cord. The elastic ligament extends from the junction of the laminae of the thyroid cartilage (anteriorly) to the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages (posteriorly).

Question 20

Conus Elasticus

Answer 20

Elastic membrane extending from cricoid cartilage to the vocal ligament. Consists of median cricothyroid ligament, vocal ligament, and cricothyroid ligament

Question 21

Quadrangular Membrane

Answer 21

Thin submucosal sheet of connective tissues. Extends from arytenoid cartilage to the epiglottic cartilage. Covered by the aryepiglottic fold

Question 22

Vestibular Ligament

Answer 22

False vocal cords. These are free edges of the quadrangular membrane. Do not produce sound

Question 23

Age changes of Vocal Cords

Answer 23

Growth until age 3. At puberty, male laryngeal cavity enlarge and laryngeal walls thicken. Vocal folds lengthen and thicken (both men and women, but men more abruptly). Laryngeal prominence becomes visible and protrudes.

Question 24

Interior of Larnyx

Answer 24

3 Compartments: vestibule, ventricles, and infraglottic cavity.

Question 25

Vestibule of the larynx

Answer 25

Cavity superior to the vestibular folds

Question 26

Ventricle of the larynx

Answer 26

Cavity of the lateral walls between the vestibular and vocal folds. One per side. Responsible for the "deep-ness" of an individual's voice.

Question 27

Infraglottic Cavity

Answer 27

Space below vocal folds, between the vocal folds and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage

Question 28

Rima Glottis

Answer 28

Aperture between the vocal folds

Question 29

Glottis

Answer 29

Vocal folds, rima glottiis and narrow part of the larynx at the level of the vocal folds. Part of the larynx most directly associated with voice production

Question 30

Rima vestibuli

Answer 30

Aperture between the vestibular folds. Protective mechanism; keeps larynx closed during swallowing

Question 31

Extrinsic muscles of the larynx

Answer 31

Infrahyoid and suprahyoid

Question 32

Infrahyoid muscle

Answer 32

Depressor of the hyoid bone and larynx; result in LOW pitch voice

Question 33

Suprahyoid bone

Answer 33

Elevator of hyoid bone and larynx; result in HIGH pitch voice

Question 34

Intrinsic muscles of larynx

Answer 34

Muscles that close laryngeal inlet (Transverse arytenoid, oblique arytenoid), Muscles that ADDuct the larynx (lateral cricoarytenoid), muscles that abduct the vocal cords (posterior cricoarytenoid), muscles that tense the vocal cords (cricothyroid), muscles that relax the vocal cord (thyroarytenoid), and Vocalis muscle

Question 35

Transverse arytenoid

Answer 35

Adduct the arytenoidal cartilage, CLOSING the laryngeal inlet. Closes vocal folds and rima glottis. Reccurent laryngeal of CNX

Question 36

Action of the Transverse Arytenoid

Answer 36

Adducts arytenoid cartilage (closes rima glottidis)

Question 37

Oblique Arytenoid

Answer 37

Adduct the arytenoidal cartilage, CLOSING the laryngeal inlet. Closes the rima glottis. Recurrent laryngeal of CNX

Question 38

Action of the Oblique Arytenoids

Answer 38

Adducts arytenoid cartilages (closes rima) [No image from slides =(]

Question 39

Lateral Cricoarytenoid

Answer 39

Extends between cricothyroid and muscular processes of aretynoid. Adducts vocal cords and medially rotates arytenoid cartilage (closes rima glottidis). Recurrent laryngeal of CNX.

Question 40

Action of the Lateral Cricoarytenoid

Answer 40

Adducts vocal cords and medially rotates arytenoid cartilage (closes rima glottidis)

Question 41

Posterior cricoarytenoid

Answer 41

Extend from cricoid cartilage to muscular process of arytenoid cartilages. Abducts vocal cords, and laterally rotates the arytenoid cartilage, allows air to leave by rima glottis opening. Recurrent nerve of CN X.

Question 42

Action of Posterior Cricoarytenoid

Answer 42

Abducts vocal cords, opens rima glottis

Question 43

Cricothyroid Muscle

Answer 43

Tenses the vocal cords. Outside of the larynx, "tighten guitar string" makes pitch HIGH

Question 44

Action of Cricothyroid

Answer 44

produces tension and elongation of the vocal folds; results in high pitch

Question 45

Thyroarytenoid

Answer 45

Relaxes the vocal cords. parallel to vocal cord, relaxer of vocal cords , thyroid to arytenoid. "Loosen guitar string", pitch lower

Question 46

Action of Thyroarytenoid

Answer 46

Relaxes vocal folds. "Loosen guitar string", pitch lower

Question 47

Vocalis muscle

Answer 47

formed by several of the finer and most medial fibers of the thyroaryteroid muscle attached directly to the outer side of the vocal ligament. Originates between two laminae of thyroid cartilage, inserts at portions of the vocal ligament/vocal process of arytenoid. Shortens and relaxes portions of vocal cords. Recurrent Laryngeal of CN X

Question 48

Blood supply

Answer 48

Superior and Inferior laryngeal arteries (branches of superior and inferior thyroid arteries [branches of external carotid and thyrocervical trunk of subclavian, respectively]). Superior and inferior thyroid arteries eventually anastamose with their paired sides and with each other (superior with inferior).

Question 49

Superior thyroid artery

Answer 49

First branch of the external carotid artery. Enters through the thyrohyoid membrane just below the hyoid bone. Gives off superior laryngeal artery for blood supply to larynx

Question 50

Inferior thyroid artery.

Answer 50

Branch of thyrocervical trunk off of the subclavian artery. Gives off inferior laryngeal artery for supply to larynx.

Question 51

CN X

Answer 51

Gives off two relevant branches for innervation to the larynx: Superior laryngeal and recurrent laryngeal.

Question 52

Superior laryngeal

Answer 52

Internal laryngeal branch (sensory) and external laryngeal branch (motor)

Question 53

Internal laryngeal branch

Answer 53

Provides sensory innervation to regions of the larynx above the vocal folds

Question 54

External Laryngeal branch

Answer 54

Provides motor innervation. Functions to tense the vocal cords by activating the cricothyroid muscle, increasing pitch. Gives branches to pharyngeal plexus.

Question 55

Recurrent Laryngeal

Answer 55

All intrinsic muscles except cricothyroid (which is external laryngeal). Sensory for laryngeal area below the vocal folds. Right recurrent laryngeal nerve loops under right subclavian artery and the left recurrent loops under the aortic arch, then both ascend up to the larynx. Locate these nerves, in the neck, in groove between the trachea and esophagus as it moves superiorly, deep to the thyroid gland, to the larynx