The Larynx

What 3 muscles act upon the true vocal folds

1. Cricothyroid M. 2. Thyroarytenoid M. 3. Vocalis M.

Well known facts related to they thyroid cartilage

1. Known as the "Adam's apple" (due to its prominence in males). 2. At puberty, the male cartilage grows very rapidly, resulting in a lowering of pitch (deepening of the voice) by approximately one octave.

What two muscles attach to the muscular processes of the arytenoid cartilage

1. Lateral cricoarytenoid M. 2. Posterior cricoarytenoid M.

The venous return is via 3 branches

1. Superior laryngeal vein - branch of superior thyroid vein to the internal jugular vein. 2. Inferior laryngeal vein - branch of inferior thyroid vein to the brachiocephalic vein. 3. Cricothyroid vein - branch of superior thyroid vein. 3.

What are the 4 laryngeal inlet muscles

1. Transverse arytenoid M. 2. Oblique arytenoid M. 3. Aryepiglotticus M. 4. Thyroepiglotticus M.

function of posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

Abducts true vocal folds - opens rima glottis; This muscle (one on each side) is the only abductor of the true vocal folds (the only muscle which opens the rima glottidis).

Function of the transverse and oblique arytenoids

Adduction of arytenoid cartilages - helps close laryngeal inlet and rima glottidis.

Important landmarks of the Larynx

Laryngeal prominence - Midline elevation created by the thyroid cartilage. Also referred to as the "Adam's Apple" due to its prominence in males. Thyroid notch - Depression on superior border of laryngeal prominence.

function of vocalis muscle

Slightly relaxes tension upon vocal ligament. This results in subtle changes in pitch.

The primary blood supply to the larynx is via 3 arteries:

Superior laryngeal artery - branch of superior thyroid artery (travels with the superior laryngeal n.). 2. Inferior laryngeal artery - branch of inferior thyroid artery (travels with the recurrent laryngeal n.). 3. Cricothyroid artery - branch of superior thyroid artery; pierces the cricothyroid membrane.

What muscle is the aryepiglotticus muscle a continuation of

The aryepiglotticus is a continuation of the oblique arytenoid muscle within the aryepiglottic fold.

Name the 3 cartilages made with elastic cartilage

The corniculate, cuneiform, epiglottis, and vocal process and apices of the arytenoid cartilages

What muscle is the thyroepiglotticus muscle a continuation of

The thyroepiglotticus can be considered a continuation of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

What physical function do the true vocal folds have

They produce audible vibrations when their free margins are closely apposed during phonation, and air is forcibly expired intermittently between them. They also serve as the main inspiratory sphincter of the larynx when they are tightly closed.

Name the 3 cartilages made with hyaline cartilage

Thyroid cartilage arytenoid cartilage (except apices and vocal processes) cricoid cartilage

Complete adduction of the true folds forms an effective sphincter that prevents entry of air, such as during a

Valsalva manuever

Arytenoid cartilages move in three directions, resulting in tensing, approximating, and relaxing the vocal cords: name them

a. pivot along superior-inferior axis (twisting) results in abduction and adduction of true vocal cords. b. medial-lateral excursion (sliding) results in adduction and abduction of entire cartilage. c. anterior-posterior excursion (tilting) of entire cartilage.

function of lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

adduct true vocal folds

What do the intrinsic muscles physically do to the vocal cords

altering primarily the length and tension of the vocal cords and the rima glottidis.

How is the arytenoid cartilage attached to the epiglottis

aryepiglottic fold

Name the 3 paired cartilages

arytenoid cartilage cuneiform cartilage corniculate cartilage

Which is the paired cartilage most important for sound production and why

arytenoid cartilage due to their muscular and ligamentous attachments, vocal cords

What is the position of the arytenoid cartilages and vocal processes during rest or normal respiration?

arytenoids adducted, vocal processes abducted (arytenoids pivoting upon superior-inferior axis).

What is the position of the arytenoid cartilages and vocal processes during phonation

both adducted

What is the position of the arytenoid cartilages and vocal processes during forced respiration

both are widely abducted, arytenoids slid laterally

What is the function of thyroarytenoid and aryepiglotticus muscles

closes laryngeal inlet

Which cartilage surrounds the airway

cricoid cartilage

How does the cricoid cartilage articulate with the thyroid cartilage and what does this allow

cricothyroid joint ; this articulation allows anterior rotation and anterior gliding of the thyroid cartilage on the cricoid cartilage to adjust tension of vocal cords.

Which cartilages normally do not calcify with age

elastic cartilages

where does the laryngeal cavity extend

extends from the laryngeal inlet to the level of the cricoid cartilage

Innervation of Cricothyroid muscle

external laryngeal nerve

Which muscles move the larynx as a whole

extrinsic muscles

What are vesicular folds aka

false vocal folds

Due to its position at the superior end of the bronchial tree and trachea, the larynx has earned the title

guardian of the airway

Which cartilages have the possibility of calcifying with age

hyaline cartilages

How is hyoid bone attached to the epiglottis

hyoepiglottic ligament

What is the one bone of the larynx

hyoid bone

Which muscles move the laryngeal parts

intrinsic muscles

what is the ventricle

left and right lateral recess located between vestibular folds and true vocal folds

The vocalis muscle is formed from the

medial-most fibers of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

The larynx is a fairly small organ made up of

one bone and 9 cartilages

What is the laryngeal inlet and what makes it up

opening formed by epiglottis anteriorly, arytenoid cartilages posteriorly, and aryepiglottic fold

Where does the vestibule lie

region above vestibular folds (false vocal folds).

What is the infraglottic cavity

region between true vocal folds and inferior aspect of cricoid cartilage

Function of vocalis muscle

slightly relaxes tension upon vocal ligament. This results in subtle changes in pitch.

What muscles is the posterolateral border of the thyroid cartilage an attachment site for

stylopharyngeus muscle palatopharyngeus muscle

Function of the larynx

the larynx (specifically the epiglottis) helps to maintain a patent airway by protecting the respiratory system from the entrance of food and foreign substances. -The larynx is also responsible for the production of sound and speech (phonation). -The mouth, nose, and tongue also help the larynx in its task of sound and voice production.

What is conus elasticus made up of

the lateral cricothyroid ligament plus the vocal ligament.

What makes boys' voice fluctuate during puberty

they have rapid growth of the thyroid cartilage, tension is off, voice fluctuates

What are the vocal ligaments and where do they run

thickened medial-most portion of conus elasticus which runs from thyroid lamina anteriorly to vocal process of arytenoid cartilage posteriorly.

The vocalis muscle is formed from the medial-most fibers of the

thyroarytenoid muscle

What muscle of the epiglottis assists in closing the laryngeal inlet

thyroepiglotticus muscle

How is the larynx connected to the hyoid bone

thyrohyoid membrane

Name the 3 unpaired laryngeal cartilages

thyroid cartilage cricoid cartilage epiglottic cartilage

Which vocal cords or folds are responsible from sound coming from the larynx

true vocal folds

What 3 things make up the true vocal folds

vocal ligmament vocalis muscle mucous membrane

What is the position of the arytenoid cartilages and vocal processes during whispering

vocal processes adducted and arytenoid cartilages abducted