Anatomy Of The Larynx

Front 1

Regions of the larynx

Back 1

Supraglottal
- ventricle of larynx (space)
- false vocal chords (walls)

Rima glotis
- true vocal folds (walls)

Subglottal region (infraglottal)
- Below the true vocal folds
- Conus elasticus (walls)

Front 2

The Cartilages of the larynx

Back 2

Epiglottis
Hyoid Bone
Thyrohyoid Membrane
Thyroid Cartilage
Cricothyroid membrane
Cricoid Cartilage
Arytenoid cartilage
Trachea

Front 3

Epiglottis

Back 3

Guards the entrance of the glottis, the opening between the vocal folds. Prevents food from going into the trachea

Front 4

Hyoid

Back 4

provides attachment to the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind.

Front 5

Thyrohyoid membrane

Back 5

tough, fibro-elastic ligament (or membrane) that connects the thyroid cartilage with the hyoid bone.

Front 6

Thyroid Cartilage

Back 6

forms the bulk of the anterior wall of the larynx,
protect the vocal folds ("vocal cords"), which are located directly behind it.
Attachment for several laryngeal muscles.

Composed of two plate-like laminae that fuse on the anterior side of the cartilage to form a peak, called the laryngeal prominence or "Adam's apple".

Front 7

lateral cricothyroid ligament

Back 7

(also known as the cricothyroid membrane) keeps the cricoid and thyroid from traveling too far.

Front 8

Arytenoid cartilages

Back 8

pair of small three-sided pyramids which form part of the larynx, to which the vocal folds are attached. These allow and aid in the vocal folds' movement.

Front 9

Cricoid cartilage

Back 9

provides attachments for the various muscles, cartilages, and ligaments involved in opening and closing the airway and in speech production.

Front 10

Trachea

Back 10

Tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air (windpipe)

Front 11

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles

Back 11

Opens glottis - abducts true vocal folds
Attached to dorsal plates of cricoid cartilages
Rotates arytenoids and separates vocal chords

Front 12

Lateral Cricoarytenoid muscles

Back 12

Close glottis - Adduct vocal folds
Attached to lateral margins of cricoid cartilage
Swings arytenoids forward and down

Front 13

Interarytenoid muscles

Back 13

Closes glottis - adducts vocal folds
Attached to left and right arytenoid cartilages
Draw arytenoids together posteriorly to adduct vocal folds

Front 14

Transverse Interarytenoid muscles

Back 14

Runs horizontally between arytenoids (adducts)

Front 15

Oblique Interarytenoid muscles

Back 15

Connects arytenoids in X-shape

Front 16

Cricothyroid muscles

Back 16

Stretches and thins vocal folds and increases pitch
Tilts posterior aspect of cricoid backward

Front 17

Thyroarytenoid muscles

Back 17

Shortens vocal cords
Pulls arytenoids towards thyroid cartilage

Front 18

Vocalis muscles

Back 18

Changes tension in vocal folds
Closes glottis

Front 19

extrinsic muscles

Back 19

connect the thyroid, cricoid, and arytenoid cartilages to other structures of the head and neck

Front 20

intrinsic muscles

Back 20

move the vocal folds in reference to each other