Anatomy of the Larynx

The
“Voice Box”

Dr K. Igboebisi
ENT SHO
Description & Function
The larynx extends vertically from the tip of the
epiglottis to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage
An organ in the neck of mammals involved in
protection of the trachea and sound production.
It manipulates pitch and volume and houses the vocal
folds(an essential component of phonation) and also
closes of Respiratory system - allows increase in
abdominal Pressure
 Anatomical position
The larynx is found in the
anterior neck at the level of the
C3-C6 vertebrae.
It connects the hypopharynx
with the trachea.
The laryngeal skeleton consists
of nine cartilages:
three single three paired
thyroid arytenoid
epiglottic cuneiform
cricoid corniculate
 THYROID CARTILAGE
A. THYROID CARTILAGE – Shield shaped
- has Sup. & Inf. Horns from upper & lower edges

- Inf. horns make synovial hinges joint with Cricoid Cartilage;

-Laryngeal Prominence = Adam’s Apple, more prominent in males (ARROW)
-Thyroid tubercules and the linea oblique
 Cricoid cartilage
Cricoid = Signet ring. Only complete ring of cartilage has narrow arch
anteriorly, broad Lamina posteriorly
ANT POST
 EPIGLOTTIS
leaf shaped cartilage
Gate keeper
 OTHER LARYNX:
CARTILAGES
Arytenoid – 2 pyramidal
shaped cartilages
Corniculate -nodules above
arytenoids in aryepiglottic
folds
Cuneiform – rod shaped,
above corniculate cartilages
LIGAMENTS OF LARYNX

Structural
and
functional Ligaments
 Structural (anterior)
 Structural ligaments - hold larynx, hyoid, trachea together

Median Thyrohyoid Ligament

Thyrohyoid Membrane

Median Cricothyroid Ligament

Cricothyroid Membrane

Cricotracheal ligament
Structural (posterior)
Glossoepiglottic folds

Thyroepiglottic Aryepiglottic
Ligament Folds

Quadrangula
r Membrane
FUNCTIONAL LIGAMENTS

Vocal Ligaments
Conus Elasticus

Rima Glottidis
LARYNGOSCOPE VIEW OF
LARYNX
Muscles of the larynx

Intrinsic
&
Extrinsic
Intrinsic Muscles
• Aryepiglottic Muscle
– Draws the epiglottis posteriorly and downward
during swallowing
• Transverse/Oblique Arytenoid Muscle
– adducts vocal folds
• Lateral Cricoarytenoid
- Adducts the vocal folds
• Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscles
– Only ABDUCTOR of the vocal cords
• Lateral Thyroarytenoid
– Draws arytenoid cartilage forward forward
relaxing and adducting the vocal folds
• Vocalis muscle
– relaxes segments of the vocal ligament thereby
adjusting voice pitch
• Medial thyroarytenoid & Cricothyroid
– Tensors
Extrinsic muscles
Movement of the whole Larynx
 Thyrohyoid muscles
 Sternothyroid muscles
 Inferior constrictor muscles (thyropharyngeal &
cricopharyngeal part)
 Digastric
 Stylohyoid
 Mylohyoid
Supra Hyoid muscles
 Geniohyoid
 Hyoglossus
 Nerves of the larynx
Internal- It provides sensation of the
SUP. LARYNG. glottis and supraglottis(includes the
N. pharynx, underside of the epiglottis and the
larynx above the cords.

External -It supplies motor function to the

crycothyroid muscle – the only intrinsic
muscle

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve -It provides

sensation to the subglottic area which
Int. Laryng. N. includes the larynx below the vocal cords
and upper esophagus. It provides motor
X nerve
function to the intrinsic muscles of the
Ext. Laryng. N.
larynx

RECURRENT
LARYNG. N.
Blood supply / drainage
LARYNX - LYMPHATICS

Superior Deep Cervical Nodes

Larynx above true vocal folds

Inferior Deep Cervical Nodes

Larynx below true vocal
folds
Finally
ANY QUESTIONS: -

• HOPE NOT
References
http://www.theodora.com/anatomy/the_larynx.html
http://www.utoronto.ca/neuronotes/SLP/12%20%20La
rynx%20II.pdf
http://www.pitt.edu/~anat/Head/Larynx/Larynx.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferior_constrictor_musc
le
http://meb.marshall.edu/anatomy/grosshom/allppt/pdf/
LarynxLectureff.pdf