pharynx and larynx anatomy

Question 1

What are the three regions of the pharynx?

Answer 1

• nasopharynx
• oropharynx
• laryngopharynx

Question 2

What two tracts join into the pharynx?

Answer 2

respiratory and alimentary tracts

Question 3

Where does the pharynx start and end?

Answer 3

cranial base to oesophagus

Question 4

Where does the nasopharynx start and end?

Answer 4

cranial base and soft palate (post to nasal cavity)

Question 5

Where are the pharyngeal tonsils located?

Answer 5

roof of nasopharynx

Question 6

What does the eustachian/pharyngotympanic tube connect?

Answer 6

nasopharynx to middle ear

Question 7

Where is the oropharynx located?

Answer 7

between soft palate and upper epiglottis (posterior to oral cavity)

Question 8

What tonsils are located in the oropharynx?

Answer 8

Palatine

Question 9

Where is the laryngopharynx located?

Answer 9

• post to larynx

- tip to epiglottis to oesophagus at level C6

Question 10

What are the piriform fossa’s?

Answer 10

part of larynx bulges into laryngopharynx (site that foreign objects often get lodged)

Question 11

What are the three pharyngeal constrictor muscles?

Answer 11

1) superior pharyngeal constrictor
2) middle pharyngeal constrictor
3) inferior pharyngeal constrictor

Question 12

What nerve innervates the pharyngeal muscles?

Answer 12

pharyngeal plexus and pharyngeal branches of vagus

N.B except stylopharyngeal which is innervated by glossopharyngeal

Question 13

Where is the larynx located?

Answer 13

between oropharynx and trachea (anterior of the neck)

Question 14

How many cartilages make up larynx?

Answer 14

9 (3 paired and 3 unpaired)

Question 15

What are the laryngeal cartilages?

Answer 15

Unpaired
- thyroid 
- cricoid
- epiglottis 
Paired
- arytenoid 
- corniculate 
- cuneiform

Question 16

What bone is superior to the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 16

hyoid (connected via the thyrohyoid membrane)

Question 17

Describe structure of the cricoid?

Answer 17

arched on anterior side

flat Lamina on post side

Question 18

How does the cricoid attach to thyroid and trachea?

Answer 18

median cricothyroid ligament attachment to thyroid

cricotracheal ligament to trachea

Question 19

What is the function of the epiglottis

Answer 19

seals off the trachea during swallowing to prevent aspiration

Question 20

What connects the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages?

Answer 20

quadrangular membrane

Question 21

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 21

voice production

protection of air passages

Question 22

Where is the laryngeal cavity located?

Answer 22

laryngeal inlet and inferior border of cricoid cartilage

Question 23

What makes up the laryngeal cavity?

Answer 23

laryngeal vestibule
middle region of cavity
laryngeal ventricle
infraglottic cavity

Question 24

What two things do each vocal fold contain?

Answer 24

vocal ligament and vocalis muscle

Question 25

What is the function of the vocal folds?

Answer 25

control sound production and prevent choking by closing off the larynx

Question 26

What is the rima glottidis?

Answer 26

opening between vocal folds and the arytenoid cartilages of the larynx changes shape based on position of vocal folds (opens as air is expelled)

Question 27

What is the rima glottidis?

Answer 27

- opening between vocal folds and the arytenoid cartilages of the larynx - changes shape based on position of vocal folds (opens as air is expelled, closed during phonation)

Question 28

What are the muscles of the larynx?

Answer 28

``` cricothyroid muscle thyro-arytenoid vocalis posterior crico-arytenoid lateral cricoid-arytenoid transverse arytenoid oblique arytenoid ```

Question 29

What nerve innervates the cricoid-thyroid muscle?

Answer 29

external laryngeal

Question 30

What nerve innervates the majority of the laryngeal muscles?

Answer 30

inferior laryngeal nerve (continuation of recurrent laryngeal)

Question 31

Describe the structure of the thyroid cartilage?

Answer 31

- composed of two laminae which fuse anteriorly to form laryngeal prominence (Adams apple) - each lamina has a superior and inferior horn - also contains superior thyroid notch superior to laryngeal prominence

Question 32

What is the location of the epiglottis?

Answer 32

post to root of tongue and hyoid | anterior to inlet of larynx

Question 33

What makes up the lower border of the quadrangular membrane?

Answer 33

Vestibular ligament which is covered by mucosa to form the vestibular fold

Question 34

What makes up the upper border of the quadrangular membrane?

Answer 34

ary-epiglottic ligament which is covered by mucosa to form ary-epiglottic fold

Question 35

What cartilages are fund in region of Ary-epiglottic fold?

Answer 35

corniculate and cuneiform

Question 36

What is the function of the cricothyroid muscle?

Answer 36

stretches and tenses vocal ligaments

Question 37

What is the function of the thyroid-arytenoid muscles?

Answer 37

relaxes vocal ligaments

Question 38

What is the function of the vocalis muscles?

Answer 38

relaxes posterior region of vocal ligaments whilst maintaining tension on anterior region

Question 39

What is the function of the crico-arytenoid muscles?

Answer 39

abducts vocal folds

Question 40

What is the function of the lateral cricoid-arytenoid muscles?

Answer 40

adduct vocal folds

Question 41

What is the function of the transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles?

Answer 41

close off the posterior region of rima glottidis