LARYNX C3-C6

Connects oropharyngeal isthmus to trachea.

Cartilages, muscles, ligaments and mucous membrane
Quadrangular membrane forms the superior and conus elasticus forms the
inferior membranes of larynx.
Functions
1) guard air passages while swallowing
2) phonation / voice production
cartilages
1) tyroid cartilage SINGLE - LARGEST
C3- At the anterior regions, 2 laminae of it fuse to form LARYNGEAL PROMINENCE
adams apple
Superior to this prominence is V shaped superior tyroid notch.
Between inferior and superior tyroid TUBERCLES -> oblique line
At posterior side, laminae project as superior and inferior horns.
Superior borders and horns are attached to HYOID bone by tyrohyoid membrane.

2) Inferior horns articulate with CRICOID CARTILAGE by cricotyroid joints

(pivot) and ligements. SINGLERotation of cricotyroid joints causes changes in the length of vocal folds.
Anterior side is ARCH,
posterior is LAMINA.
Thicker and stronger only complete ring that encircles the airway.
Attached to inferior margin of tyroid cartilage by MEDIAN CRICOTYROID
LIGAMENT
To tracheal ring by CRICOTRACHEAL LIGAMENT

3) Arytenoid cartilages PAIRED

Pyramidal artculation with lamina of cricoid cartilages.

Superior : apex corniculate cartilage

Anterior : vocal process posterior of vocal ligaments
Base: muscular process posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are
attached.
Arcuate crest on anterolateral surface divides 2 depressions (foveae) into
triangular and oblong. Triangular fovea attaches to vestibular ligament. To oblong
depression: vocalis.
Function: movement alters tension on vocal cords
4) Corniculate cartilage - PAIRED on the apex of arytenoid cartilage.
5) Eppiglottis SINGLE - Elastic cartilage.
Posterior to root of tongue and hyoid bone, anteriorly to laryngeal inlet.
Superior end is free but its tapered inferior end (stalk of eppiglottis) is attached
to angle formed by tyroid laminae via tyro-eppiglotic ligament. Anterior border is
attached to hyoid bone by hyo-eppiglotic ligament. On the posterior surface :
eppiglotic tuberle.
Anterior surface lateral and median glossoeppiglotic folds. Between these folds
is VALLECULA.
Thin submucosal sheet of connective tissue called QUADRANGULAR MEMBRANE
between arytenoid and eppiglotis VESTIBULE inferior margins contain
vesitbular ligament covered by mucosa to form vestibular fold. Superior of vocal
folds.
Superior margins of quadrangular membrane forms ary-eppiglotic ligaments
which are covered by mucosa to form ARY-EPPIGLOTIC FOLD.
6) Cuneiform cartilage PAIRED are not attached directly to any cartilage.
Found within aryeppiglotic fold. Together with corniculate cartilage form
corniculate and cuneiform tuberles on the ary-eppiglotic fold.
VOCAL FOLDS
Glottis: vocal apparatus of larynx made up of vocal folds and processes
Function: sound production
vocal folds superior border of conus elasticus membrane - extend from junction
of laminae of tyroid cartilage anteriorly to vocal process of arytenoid posteriorly.
Each vocal fold consists of a vocal ligament and a vocal muscle.
Conus elasticus closes the tracheal inlet except rima glottidis opening of vocal
cords

During breathing; narrow. Forced

respiration: wide

INTERIOR
Larynx superiorly opens to laryngopharynx via laryngeal inlet and inferiorly is
limited at cricoid cartilage which connects laryngeal cavity to tracheal cavity.

Eppiglotis
Hyoid bone
Vestibule / quadrangular membrane
Vestibular fold
Laryngeal ventricle + saccule (glands)
Vocal fold
Infraglottic cavity bw vocal folds and cricoid cartilage
inf border
Conus elasticus

Extrinsic Ligaments

Intrinsic ligaments

Tyrohyoid membrane
2 parts
Median and Lateral
Pierce on lateral part for the passage of
internal branch of superior laryngeal
nerve, superior laryngeal artery and
vein
Hypoeppiglotic ligament

Fibroelastic membranes are 2

Conus elasticus (cricoid, tyroid angle,
vocal process)
and Quadrangular membrane
(eppiglotis, arytenoid, corniculate)

Cricotracheal Ligament

Posterior Cricoarytenoid ligament

Thyroeppiglotic Ligament

Rima vestibuli: opening between 2 adjacent vestibular folds at the entrance of

laryngeal cavity. Priform recess for liquid

Intrinsic
Cricotyroid

Posterior
Cricoarytenoi
d

External
branch of
laryngeal
nerve
Recurrent
larngeal
nerve

Lateral
Cricoarytenoi
d

Reccurrent
laryngeal
nerve

Arytenoid
(intercartilage
ous part)

Oblique

Transverse
1

Straight

Oblique 2
continues
to form
aryeppiglot
ic muscle.

Reccurent
laryngeal
nerve

Thyroarytenoi
d

Reccurent
laryngeal
nerve

Thyroeppiglot
ic

Reccurent
laryngeal
nerve

Vocalis
(thyroid and
cricoid
cartilages to
arytenoid

Reccurent
laryngeal
nerve

Tenses
vocal
ligaments
Externally
rotates
arytenoid
and
ABDUCS
VOCAL
FOLDS
Rotates
arytenoid
internally
and
1)ADDUCT
S VOCAL
FOLDS
2)
ADDUCTS
VOCAL
FOLDS
Covers
conus
elasticus
externally
and
reduces
tension on
vocal
cords.
3)ADDUCT
S VOCAL
FOLDS
Closes
aperture of
eppiglotis
and forms
spinchter
of larynx
Sorrounds
vocal folds
and adjusts
tension on
cords.

ONLY
ABDUCTOR
OF VOCAL
CORDS

crtilages)
NERVES
Vagus branches
1) Superior laryngeal nerve > 2 branches. External and Internal.
External : cricotyroid muscle (motor)
Internal : general sensory and parasympathetic fibers
2) Inferior (recurrent) laryngeal nerve.
Motor innvervations of all layrngeal muscles except cricotyroid.
General sensory
Parasympathetic fibers

Runs with
superior
laryngeal
nerve

ARTERIES

VEINS

Lymph nodes: upper and lower deep cervical lymph nodes around venous angle
and aortic arch

Quiet resp: the laryngeal inlet, vestibule, rima vestibuli and rima glottidis are
open. Arytenoid cartilages are abducted.

Runs with
Forced respi: vocal folds are abducted and rima glottidis is open. Vastibule is inferior
open.
laryngeal
nerve
Phonation: Vocal folds and arytenoid cartilages are ADDUCTED. Air is forced
through closed rima glottidis.
Effort closure: rima glottidis is completely closed so rima vestibuli and vestibule
are closed.

Swallowing: rima glottidis, the rima vestibuli, and vestibule are closed and the
laryngeal inlet is narrowed. Larynx moves up and forward, pushing eppiglotis
downward and toward arytenoid cartilages to close laryngeal inlet. This
movement opens eosephaus as well.

RELATIONS
ANTERIOR
Skin
Superficial
cervical fascia

Platystma
Pretrecheal
fascia

Anterolateral
Sternocleidomas
toid
Sternohyoid

Sternotyroid
Thyrohyoid
omohyoid

Lateral
Tyroid gland
Carotid sheat
(common
carotid artery,
internal
jugular vein,
vagus nerve)

Superior
Hyoid bone

Posterior
Laryngophary
nx