The Larynx

•
The Larynx
• The larynx is a specialized
organ that :
• 1.provides an air passage.
• 2.provides a protective
sphincter at the inlet of the
lower respiratory passages.
• 3.is responsible for voice
production.

• Situation:
• -in the anterior midline of the
neck
• -above it opens into the
laryngeal part of the pharynx
& below it is continuous with
the trachea.
• Size :length
• Male:44mm
Female:36mm
Constitution of the larynx :
• Made up of skeletal framework of cartilages.
• Are connected by joints, ligaments & membranes.

• The skeleton or Cartilages of Larynx :

• Contains 9 cartilages, of which 3 are unpaired & 3 paired.
• Unpaired cartilages :
• 1.Thyroid
• 2.Cricoid
• 3.Epiglotic

• Paired cartilages :
• 1. Arytenoid
• 2.Corniculate
• 3.Cuneiform.
Thyroid Cartilage :
• Consists of 2 laminae of quadrilateral shaped
hyaline cartilage meeting in the prominent V angle of
the Adam’s apple.
• -median projection called the laryngeal prominence.
• -thyroid notch
• -the superior & inferior cornua or horns.
• -oblique line.
Cricoid Cartilage
• -hyaline type of cartilage, shaped like a ring.
• -encircles the larynx below the thyroid cartilage and is thicker &
stronger than the thyroid cartilage.
• -narrow anterior arch & broad posterior lamina.
• -articulates superiorly with the arytenoid cartilages & at the sides
with the inferior cornua of the thyroid cartilage.
Epiglotic Cartilage/Epiglottis
:
• -is a leaf shaped cartilage placed in the anterior wall of the upper
• part of the larynx.
• -upper end is broad & free ; lower end or stalk is pointed.
• -the aryepiglotic folds
Arytenoid
Cartilage :
• -small, 2 in number,
pyramidal.
• -lies in the upper border of the
lamina of the cricoid cartilage.
• -the apex of the arytenoid
cartilage is curved
posteromedially.
• -the base is concave.
• -it is prolonged anteriorly to
form the vocal process ; &
laterally to form the muscular
process.
• -anterolateral, medial &
posterior surfaces.
Corniculate Cartilages
:
• -2 small conical nodules which articulate with the apex of the
• arytenoid cartilages.
Cuneiform Cartilages :
• -two small rod-shaped pieces of cartilage placed in the
aryepiglotic folds.
Histology of Laryngeal
Cartilages :
• The thyroid & cricoid cartilages,& the basal parts of the arytenoid
cartilages are made up of hyaline cartilage.
• Epiglottis, corniculate, cuneiform & processes of the arytenoid are
made of elastic cartilage.

• Laryngeal joints :
• -the cricothyroid joint;
• -the cricoarytenoid joint.
Membranes & ligaments of the
larynx:
• Extrinsic :
• 1.The thyrohoid membrane
• connects the thyroid
cartilage
• to the hyoid bone.
• 2.The hyoepiglottic
ligament
• 3.The cricotracheal
ligament.

• Intrinsic :
• The intrinsic ligaments are
part
• of a broad sheet of
fibroelastic tissue,known as
the fibroelastic
• membrane of the larynx.
• The quadrate membrane.
• The conus elasticus.
Cavity of Larynx :
• The cavity of the larynx
extends from the inlet of the
larynx to the lower border of
the cricoid cartilage.
• The inlet of the larynx is
placed obliquely.
• Boundaries of the inlet :

• Within the cavity of the

larynx, there are 2 folds of
mucous membrane on each
side.
• -The upper fold is the
vestibular fold & the lower
fold is the vocal
• fold.
• -The rima vestibuli
• -The rima glottidis
• The vestibular & vocal folds
divide the cavity of the
larynx into 3 parts :1.the
vestibule 2.the sinus or
ventricle 3.the infraglottis.
Muscles of the Larynx:
• The muscles can be divided into extrinsic & intrinsic groups :
• 1. Extrinsic Muscles :
• i. The elevators of the larynx ii. The depressors of the larynx.
• 2. Intrinsic muscles of larynx :
Nerve supply of the intrinsic Muscles :
-the recurrent laryngeal nerve except for the cricothyroid.
• Actions :
• The vocal process & muscular
processes move in opposite
directions. Any muscle which
pulls the muscular process
medially, pushes the vocal
process laterally, resulting in
abduction of vocal cords;
which is done by posterior
cricothyroid.
Movements of Vocal folds :
• Movements of vocal folds
affect the shape & size of the
rima glottidis.
• 1. During quiet breathing :
• 2. During phonation :
• 3. During forced inspiration :
• 4. During whispering :
Artery Supply & Venous Drainage of Larynx :
• Up to the vocal folds :
• - by superior laryngeal artery.
• - by superior laryngeal vein.
• Below the vocal folds :
• - by the inferior laryngeal artery.
• - by the inferior laryngeal vein.

• Nerve supply of Larynx :

• Motor nerves :
All intrinsic muscles by the
recurrent laryngeal nerve except
for the cricothyroid.
• Sensory nerves :
• -above the vocal folds : internal
laryngeal nerve.
-below the vocal folds:recurrent
laryngeal nerve.

• Lymphatic Drainage :
- The antero-superior group of
deep cervical nodes.
• - The postero-inferior group of
deep cervical nodes
• - The prelaryngeal nodes.
Mechanism of Speech :
• It involves the following four
processes :
• 1. Expired air from lungs.
• 2. Vibrators.
• 3.Resonators.
• 4.Articulators.

• Clinical Anatomy :
• Abuse of vocal cords : Singer’s
nodules or teacher’s nodules.
• Foreign body in the larynx – severe
protective coughing.
• Glottis is the narrowest of the
respiratory passage & foreign
bodies are usually lodged here.
• Laryngitis.
• Direct Laryngoscopy / Indirect
Laryngoscopy.
• Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves
damage.
THE END