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