Pharynx and Larynx

Question 1

What does the pharynx connect?

Answer 1

Connects oral and nasal cavities to esophagus and larynx

Question 2

Pharynx’s walls

Answer 2

Posterior and lateral = complete
Anterior = incomplete
- Formed by back of tongue and larynx

Question 3

What separates the pharynx from the prevertebral muscles?

Answer 3

Loose connective tissue, retropharyngeal (retrovisceral) space

Question 4

What does the larynx connect? What is it’s nickname?

Answer 4

Connects pharynx to trachea (thus making it part of resp system)
Called “voice organ”

Question 5

Larynx’s location on vertebrae

Answer 5

C3 - C6 (think larynx has 6 letters)

Question 6

Function of larynx

Size in males vs females

Answer 6

Fxn: Helps control OPENING and CLOSING of airway during breathing, swallowing, sneezing/coughing, and speech

Males: larger larynx following puberty

Question 7

Name the laryngeal cartilage

Answer 7

Unpaired:
Thyroid
Cricoid
Epiglottic

Paired:
Arytenoid
Corniculate
Cuneiform

Question 8

Thyroid cartilage

- Size, laminae shape, notch

Answer 8

Largest laryngeal cartilage

Consists of 2 laminae – form horseshoe shaped structure

Laryngeal notch formed

Question 9

Where is the Adam’s apple formed?

Answer 9

Thyroid cartilage gives rise externally to it

Adam’s Apple = laryngeal prominence

Question 10

Cricoid cartilage

- shape, articulates with

Answer 10

Ring shaped - inferior to thyroid cart.

Articulates with inferior horns of thyroid and arytenoid cart

Narrow ring (anterior); wider ring (posterior)

Question 11

Epiglottic cartilage (epiglottis)
- shape, type of cart, function

Answer 11

Leaf shaped

Elastic cartilage

“Flap” covering entrance to the airway

Question 12

Arytenoid cartilage

- shape, articulation

Answer 12

2 pyramidal shaped hyaline cartilages

Articulate with: cricoid cartilage via synovial joint that allows lots of movement

Question 13

Arytenoid cartilage: vocal ligaments & intrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 13

Vocal ligaments:

• Attach to vocal processes of the arytenoids
• Span the thyroid cartilage

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles:

• Two
• Attach to muscular process of arytenoid

Question 14

Corniculate cartilage (location)

Cuneiform cartilage (location, fxn)

Answer 14

Both are: 2 small, elastic cartilages

Corniculate:
- Rest on top of the arytenoids

Cuneiform:

• Sit near corniculate cartilages
• Help support vocal folds and epiglottis

Question 15

False vocal fold

True vocal fold

Answer 15

False - lies above the ventricle

True - lies below the ventricle and modulates sounds for speech by closing off airway

Question 16

Ventricle

Rima glottids

Answer 16

Ventricle - space between false and true folds

Rima glottids - space between true vocal folds (the “glottis” is the vocal folds) “rim of glottis”

Question 17

Extrinsic larynx muscles

- Elevators & depressors of larynx

Answer 17

Elevators:
Thyrohyoid
Suprahyoid
Stylopharyngeus
Palatopharyngues

Depressors: (SOS)
Sternothyroid
Omohyoid
Sternohyoid

Question 18

Intrinsic larynx muscles

Answer 18

Cricothyroid
Arytenoids
Posterior cricoarytenoid (only ABDuctor of the vocal folds)**
Lateral cricoarytenoid 
Thyroarytenoid

Question 19

Intrinsic muscles function

Answer 19

Control action of vocal folds to open/close rima glottidis

Tense/relax vocal folds

Question 20

Pharyngeal wall layers:
External fibrous layer

Internal fibrous layer

Answer 20

E - Buccopharyngeal fascia

I - Pharyngobasilar fascia

Question 21

Outer layer of voluntary muscle

Answer 21

Circular in orientation

3 pharyngeal constrictors (superior, middle, inferior)

Question 22

Inner layer of voluntary muscle

I-LSP

Answer 22

Longitudinal in orientation

Stylopharyngues and palatopharyngeus muscles

Question 23

Nasopharynx

Choanae

Answer 23

Nasal pharynx

Open up into the anterior part of the nasopharynx

Question 24

Auditory tubes; “Torus tubarius”

Answer 24

Open into lateral wall of nasopharynx

Bulge over end of cartilaginous tube - “torus tubarius”

Question 25

Pharyngeal recess

Answer 25

Narrow space in nasopharynx

Question 26

Soft palate Pharyngeal isthmus (nasopharyngeal isthmus)

Answer 26

SP: separates nasopharynx from oropharynx PI: communication between parts of the pharynx

Question 27

Pharyngeal (nasopharyngeal) tonsil

Answer 27

In superior region of posterior wall of nasopharynx

Question 28

Adenoids

Answer 28

= Enlargement Block the auditory tube --> hearing impairment Obstruct choanae or pharyngeal isthmus --> mouth breathing and an abnormal voice

Question 29

Oropharynx (oral pharynx) - where it connects at Faucial isthmus

Answer 29

Connects oral cavity at oropharyngeal isthmus between: Palatoglossal folds FI: Deeper passageway - Including oropharyngeal isthmus, extending to: Palatopharyngeal folds

Question 30

Lingual tonsil - location Palatine tonsils - location

Answer 30

Lingual tonsil - Covers posterior part of tongue Palatine tonsil aka "the tonsils" - Space between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds called tonsillar fossa

Question 31

Valleculae

Answer 31

Depressions btwn tongue & epiglottis Swallowed objects can lodge here and get stuck Guides food to pharyngopharynx

Question 32

Laryngopharynx (laryngeal pharynx)

Answer 32

Posterior to larynx Communicates with inlet of: - larynx: anteriorly - esophagus: inferiorly

Question 33

Piriform recess

Answer 33

Lateral to cricoid cartilage Swallowed items can also get stuck here bc it's narrow at the top and wider at bottom (piri = pear shaped)

Question 34

Soft palate | - S: VURA

Answer 34

"Velum" (sail) Uvula is included Rich in mucous/seromucous glands on inferior part - rest of palate is muscle Attached to the hard palate anteriorly - grades into walls of pharynx laterally

Question 35

Nerve innervations - Tensor veli palatini muscle - Stylopharyngeus muscle - Rest of soft palate and pharyngeal wall

Answer 35

TVP - mandibular division of trigeminal nerve SPG - glossopharyngeal nerve Rest of muscles - VAGUS nerve

Question 36

Auditory tube - function

Answer 36

Keep air in middle ear cavity Equilibrate air pressure in middle ear w/ atmosphere pressure Allows optimal sensitivity to sound by equilibrating on both sides of ear drum If air is absorbed and replaced by serous fluid --> chronic obstruction