Anatomy

space between the vocal folds

area below the vocal folds

• rests atop the trachea-(most inferior of laryngeal structures)
• articulates at the cricothyroid joint

• largest of laryngeal structures.
• Articulates at the cricothyroid joint with the cricoid cartilage by means of paired processes that let it rock backward and forward at that joint.
• Articulates with hyoid bone by means of a pair of superior processes.

• paired
• ride on the high-backed upper surface of the cricoid cartilage
• forms posterior point of attachment for the vocal folds

• ride on superior surface of each arytenoid
• prominent landmarks in the aryepiglottic folds

• medial to hyoid and thyroid cartilage.
• a protective structure that will drop to cover the orifice of the larynx during swallowing.

• From superior to inferior:
• – Valleculae – upper front margin of larynx
• – Pyriform sinus – upper back margin of larynx
• – Aditus – entry to larynx
• – Vestibule – upper cavity
• – Ventricle – lateral cavities above vocal folds
• – Glottis – space between vocal folds
• – Subglottal atrium – lower cavity

• Provide attachment between the hyoid or trachea and cartilage of the larynx.
• Thyrohyoid membrane
• Lateral thyrohyoid ligament
• Median Thyrohyoid ligament
• Hyoepiglottic ligament
• thyroepiglottic ligament
• Lateral/median glossoepiglottic ligaments
• cricotracheal ligament

stretches across the space between the greater cornu of the hyoid and the lateral thyroid

posterior to thyrohyoid mem. runs from the superior cornu of the thyroid to the posterior tip of the greater cornu hyoid

running from the corpus hyoid to the upper border of the anterior thyroid

attach the epiglottis to the corpus hyoid and the inner thyroid cartilage, just below the notch

epiglottic attachment to the tongue

attaches trachea to the larynx

• – Located at the base of the tongue, between the tongue and the epiglottis
• – One located on each side of the epiglottis

• – Located at the back of the larynx/pharynx
• – Entrance to the esophagus
• – One on each side of the esophagus

• Aditus
• Vestibule
• Ventricle
• Glottis
• sub-glottal atrium

• – Superior margin of the larynx proper
• – Bordered by the aryepiglottic fold (which connects the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages within the larynx)

– Upper cavity of the larynx between the aditus and the “false” vocal folds

– Space between the false vocal folds and the vocal folds

– Space between the false vocal folds and the vocal folds

– Entry to the trachea

• connect the cartilages of the larynx and form the support structure for the cavity of the larynx, as well as that of the vocal folds.
• Aryepiglottic folds,
• middle cricothyroid ligament,
• conus elasticus,
• quadrangular membrane,
• vocal folds,
• ventricular folds/false vocal folds

• course from the side of the epiglottis to the arytenoid apex
• forms the upper margin of the quadrangular membranes and laterally, the epiglottic folds

• 1)squamous epithelium(keeps the delicate tissues of the vocal folds moist by assisting in fluid retention
• 2)superficial lamina propia (SLP) (cushion the vocal folds
• 3)intermediate lamina propia (ILP) (combo of SLP and ILP provides elasticity/strength)
• 4)Deep lamina propia (DLP) (primarily supportive, ILP and DLP combine to make up the vocal ligament)
• 5)thyroarytenoid muscle (thyrovocalis/thyromuscularis) (the active element of the vocal folds)