Phonation System Study Cards

Front 1

Vocal ligament attachments

Back 1

from vocal process to inner front wall of thyroid cartilage.

Front 2

Muscular process holds

Back 2

lateral portion of vocal folds
and lateral and posterior
cricoarytenoid muscles

Front 3

Ventricular ligament attaches to

Back 3

inner surface
of thyroid cartilages

Front 4

Name ligaments attaching to arytenoid cartilages

Back 4

vocal ligament, ventricular ligament

Front 5

Epigolottis, hard to remember facts

Back 5

Attaches to inner
front surface of thyroid cartilage just beneath the thyroid notch and influences resonance

Front 6

Hyoid parts

Back 6

corpus, greater horns, lesser horns

Front 7

Facts about the hyoid bone

Back 7

Attaches to 9 pairs of muscles
• Relates it to tongue, pharynx,
temporal bone, mandible, scapula,
larynx, sternum.
• It is very mobile.
• Does not connect to any other bone
in body.
• Forms a base for the tongue.

Front 8

What kind of motions does the cricoarytenoid joint capable of?

Back 8

Saddle joint which permits rocking motion and limited
amount of gliding motion.

Front 9

What shape is cricoarytenoid jont?

Back 9

Convex

Front 10

What shape is arytenoid articular facet?

Back 10

Concave

Front 11

Tell what you know about Posterior Cricoarytenoid Ligament

Back 11

• Extends from posterior surface of the cricoid lamina to
the base of the posterior surface of the arytenoid.
• Restricts the extent of forward movement.

Front 12

Tell what you know about Anterior Cricoarytenoid Ligament

Back 12

• Attaches at anterior base.
• Often absent.
• May limit backward movement of larynx.

Front 13

Talk about cricothyroid joint

Back 13

• Articular facets on cricoid cartilage may be almost flat,
concave, or convex.
• Articular facts on medial surface of inferior thyroid horns
(cornu) usually lined with synovial membrane.
• Joined together and enclosed by posterior, lateral and
anterior ceratocricoid ligaments.
• Allows limited rotation.

Front 14

Name the three valves

Back 14

epiglottis
ventricular folds
vocal folds

Front 15

The three types of muscles in larynx are?

Back 15

tensor, adductor and abductor

Front 16

List facts about intrisic muscles

Back 16

Regulate valvular action of laryngeal cavities.
• They are tensor, adductor and abductor muscles.
• Situated on or within cartilaginous skeleton.
• Form walls inside and partially outside larynx.

Front 17

Tell about CRICOTHYROID MUSCLE

Back 17

2 sections: vertical and oblique.
• Pull cricoid backward and upward and thyroid downward.
• Increase length of vocal folds.
• Innervated by 10th cranial nerve. Insult to nerve supply
to one of the two muscles--oblique portion won’t pull
cricoid posteriorly.
• Unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Front 18

Tell about THYROARYTENOID MUSCLE

Back 18

Runs parallel to glottis.
• Primary mass of vocal folds.
• Made up of 2 parts: Ventricularis (external thyroarytenoid)
Vocalis (internal thyroarytenoid

Front 19

Name the tensor muscles

Back 19

cricothyroid muscle, thyroarytenoid muscle, volcalis, ventricularis, thyroepiglottic muscle

Front 20

List facts about ventricularis.

Back 20

• A larger segment of thryoarytenoid muscle consisting of muscle
fibers within ventricular fold (wall of laryngeal ventricle).
• Origin--lateral border of arytenoid cartilage
• Insertion--lateral margin of epiglottis
• Action--affects ventricular folds

Front 21

Vocalis and ventricularis are what kind of muscles?

Back 21

Thyroarytenoid muscles.

Front 22

Tell facts about vocalis

Back 22

• Portion where internal central fibers run alongside vocal
ligament.
• Origin--vocal processes
• Insertion--medial inside border of thyroid cartilage (called macula
flava anterior)
• There is a five layer structure of the vocal fold.

Front 23

What are five layers of vocal fold?

Back 23

• Epithelium--mucosa and squamous epithelial tissue
• Lamina propria--superficial layer (extracellular gelatin matrix)
intermediate layer (elastin)
deep layer (collagen fibers)
• Vocalis muscle

Front 24

What are three sections of vocal fold?

Back 24

• Cover--Epithelium and superficial layer of lamina propria
• Transition--intermediate and deep layers of lamina propria
• Body--Vocalis muscle

Front 25

Tell facts about thyroepligottis muscles

Back 25

Muscle fibers run from thyroid cartilage upward invertical
direction and ending in aryepiglottic fold
• Serve as sphincter muscles of aditus
• Involved in closing entrance of larynx in swallowing
• Attach to deep surfaces of lamina of thyroid cartilage above
attachment of thyroarytenoid muscle
• Attach to epiglottis--widens inlet into larynx

Front 26

Name the adductor muscles

Back 26

lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, transverse arytenoid muscle, oblique arytenoid muscle

Front 27

Tell the differences between the two arytenoid muscles, oblique and transverse

Back 27

Oblique is X chap from the apex of one arytenoid to the base of the other. Transverse is horizontal around both arytenoids.

Front 28

Which muscle is the abductor muscles

Back 28

posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

Front 29

Tell facts about LATERAL CRICOARYTENOID MUSCLE

Back 29

• Arise from lateral borders of cricoid cartilage and insert into
muscular processes at outside corners of each arytenoid
cartilage.
• They adduct the arytenoids and also squeeze the anterior tips of
the vocal processes tightly together.

Front 30

Tell facts about TRANSVERSE ARYTENOID MUSCLE

Back 30

• Arise from lateral borders of cricoid cartilage and insert into
muscular processes at outside corners of each arytenoid
cartilage.
• They adduct the arytenoids and also squeeze the anterior tips of
the vocal processes tightly together.

Front 31

Tell facts about OBLIQUE ARYTENOID MUSCLE

Back 31

• Extend from the muscular process of one arytenoid to the apex
of the other.
• Action is to pull the upper tips of the arytenoids together.

Front 32

Tel facts about POSTERIOR CRICOARYTENOID MUSCLE

Back 32

• Arise from the back wall of cricoid cartilage.
• Insert into muscular processes of the arytenoid cartilages.
• They are the major muscles responsible for rocking and gliding
the arytenoids apart.
• They are the major muscles that abduct the vocal folds.

Front 33

What are Extrinsic Laryngeal Membranes & Ligaments

Back 33

Group of ligaments and membranes that
connect laryngeal cartilages to other structures.

Front 34

Name extrinsic membranes and ligaments.

Back 34

hyothyroid membrane and ligament,hyoepliglottic ligament, cricotracheal membrane,

Front 35

Give some facts about hyothyroid membrane.

Back 35

• Fills space between hyoid bone and superior border of thyroid
cartilage.
• Membrane thickens medially and is known as middle hyothyroid
ligament.
• Membrane also thickens at lateral borders between superior
horns of thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone and is know as lateral
hyothyroid ligaments.
• Triticial cartilage embedded in lateral hyothyroid ligament.

Front 36

HYOEPIGLOTTIC LIGAMENT is

Back 36

Unpaired, midline ligament extending from anterior surface of epiglottis.

Front 37

CRICOTRACHEAL MEMBRANE

Back 37

Connects lower border of cricoid cartilage with upper border of
first tracheal ring.

Front 38

What are Intrinsic Laryngeal Membranes & Ligaments

Back 38

• Interconnect various laryngeal cartilages and
help regulate direction and degree of their
movements.
• Made up of one sheet of connective tissue
(elastic membrane).
• Continuous sheet that lines the entire larynx
(except at vocal & ventricular ligaments).
• Lower portion called conus elasticus or
cricovocal membrane.
• Upper portion called quadrangular membrane.

Front 39

Give facts about conus elasticus

Back 39

• Connects thyroid, cricoid, and arytenoid cartilages with one
another.
• Divided into a medial (or anterior) cricothyroid ligament and two
lateral cricothyroid membranes.

Front 40

Tell about CONUS ELASTICUS:
Medial Cricothyroid Ligament

Back 40

• Band of yellow elastic tissue.
• Runs from midline of superior border of cricoid arch to inferior
border of thyroid cartilage.

Front 41

Tell about CONUS ELASTICUS:
Lateral Cricothyroid Membranes

Back 41

• Much thinner ligament at midline.
• Originate from superior border of cricoid cartilage and go to and
become the vocal ligaments.
• Run from vocal processes of arytenoids to angle of thyroid
cartilage.
• So, the conus elasticus extends from superior border of the arch
and lamina of cricoid cartilage to the upper limits of the vocal
folds (vocal ligament).

Front 42

Facts about QUADRANGULAR MEMBRANE

Back 42

• Paired.
• Arise from lateral margins of epiglottis and adjacent thyroid
cartilage near the angle.
• Attaches to the corniculate cartilages and medial surfaces of
arytenoids.
• Inferiorly the fibers thicken and become the ventricular ligament.

Front 43

Facts about ARYEPIGLOTTIC FOLDS

Back 43

• Form at the superior margins of quadrangular membranes.
• Together, these membranes and ligaments completely seal off
the spaces in the laryngeal structure and direct the airstream into
the aditus and upward into the resonatory passageways.

Front 44

What are Mucous Membranes of the Larynx

Back 44

• Laryngeal cavities are lined with mucous membrane from
trachea up.
• The cells are columnar in shape and have cilia which beat
towards the pharynx except at margins of vocal folds.
• The ciliated tissue is replaced by squamous epithelial
tissue at vocal folds.
• Vocal fold tissue is multi-layered and tightly bound.
• White because of lack of vascular supply.
• Ventricular folds are pink and plump.
• Made of thick folds of mucous membrane.

Front 45

Tell me what the divisions of the laryngeal cavity are.

Back 45

LARYNGEAL VESTIBULE, LARYNGEAL VENTRICLE, and INFERIOR LARYNGEAL VENTRICLE

Front 46

Give facts about the LARYNGEAL VESTIBULE

Back 46

• Area in larynx above ventricular folds.
• Opening called aditus.
• Anterior wall--epiglottis
• Lateral walls--aryepiglottic folds
• Posterior wall--upper parts of arytenoid cartilages
• Inferior limits--ventricular folds

Front 47

Give facts about LARYNGEAL VENTRICLE

Back 47

• Space between vocal folds and ventricular folds.
• Above: ventricular folds
• Below: vocal folds
• Lateral: inner wall of thyroarytenoid muscle
• Posterior: arytenoid
• Anterior: none

Front 48

Give facts about INFERIOR LARYNGEAL VENTRICLE

Back 48

• Portion below the true folds to the trachea.
• Lateral and posterior walls are cricoid cartilage.
• Anterior wall is cricothyroid ligament

Front 49

Name the sphincters of the larynx.

Back 49

ARYEPIGLOTTIC SPHINCTER, VENTRICULAR SPHINCTER, TRUE VOCAL FOLD SPHINCTER

Front 50

Give facts about ARYEPIGLOTTIC SPHINCTER

Back 50

• Muscle fibers embedded in aryepiglottic fold surrounding pear
shaped opening (aditus) into laryngeal cavity.
• First line of defense against foreign objects.
• Closes during swallowing and vomiting--preventing entry of food,
liquid or vomitus into respiratory tract.
• Opening is called upper sphincter of larynx.

Front 51

Give facts about VENTRICULAR SPHINCTER

Back 51

• Lies between laryngeal vestibule and ventricle.
• During normal phonation, ventricular folds remain in quiet, open
position.
• When the ventricular muscles contract, they meet at midline,
sealing or closing the sphincter.
• True vocal folds will always adduct first, however.
• Increases subglottic pressure by adding another “door” to keep
air in lungs and foreign objects out.

Front 52

Give facts about TRUE VOCAL FOLD SPHINCTER

Back 52

• Third door of closure.
• Not effective in preventing outflow of air during effort closure.
• Third line of defense in keeping foreign objects our of lungs.
• May close independently of other two sphincters.
• All three sphincters close during swallowing.

Front 53

What are the two categories of the Extrinsic Muscles of the Larynx

Back 53

elevators and depressors

Front 54

What are the two categories of elevators?

Back 54

PRINCIPLE
and SUPPLEMENTAL elevators.

Front 55

Tell about Principal elevators

Back 55

• 4 pairs
• Between skull and/or mandible--hyoid bone
• Raise hyoid bone which raises larynx
• Swallow and feel it

Front 56

Name the principle elevators

Back 56

digastricus, mylohyoideus, geniohyoideus, stylohyoideus

Front 57

What are the supplemental elevators?

Back 57

thyrohyoideus, hyoglossis, genioglossis

Front 58

Tell facts about digastricus.

Back 58

• Third door of closure.
• Not effective in preventing outflow of air during effort closure.
• Third line of defense in keeping foreign objects our of lungs.
• May close independently of other two sphincters.
• All three sphincters close during swallowing.

Front 59

Tell about mylohyoideus.

Back 59

• Makes up floor of oral cavity.
• Mylohyoid raphe is tendonous strip at midline.
• Connects the two muscles and supports tongue.
• Innervated by V nerve.
• Raises hyoid bone and tongue.
. A strip of tendon that runs at the midline beneath the oral cavity, the mandible. It connects to the hyoid bone.

Front 60

Tell about geniohyoideus.

Back 60

• Runs from inferior mental spine of mandible into upper 1/2 of
hyoid.
• Elevates.
• Pulls hyoid forward which pulls tongue forward
This muscle runs from the inferior mental spine of the mandible into the upper 1/2 of the hyoid bone.

Front 61

Tell about stylohyoideus

Back 61

• Located above and in front of posterior belly of digastric
muscle.
• Pulls hyoid up and rearward
This muscle is located above and in front of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle we talked about. When this muscle contracts, it pulls the hyoid bone up and rearward,

Front 62

Tell about thyrohyoideus.

Back 62

• Inserts into greater horn of hyoid bone.
• Shortens distance between larynx and hyoid.

Front 63

Tell about hyoglossis.

Back 63

• Regarded as muscle of the tongue.
• Runs from body and greater horn of hyoid up to tongue tip
and other tongue muscles.
• Aids in elevating larynx.

Front 64

Tell about genioglossis.

Back 64

• Forms most of muscular core of tongue.
• Possibly helps to elevate hyoid bone.

Front 65

What are the Depressors?

Back 65

• 3 muscles--all paired.
• Referred to as strap muscles of the neck.

Front 66

Facts about STERNOTHYROIDEUS

Back 66

• Assists in producing high and low pitches.
• Helps to make fine adjustments to vocal folds.

Front 67

Facts about STERNOHYOIDEUS

Back 67

• Same origin and course as sternothyroideus.
• Contracts to draw hyoid bone inferiorly which depresses
larynx.

Front 68

Facts about OMOHYOIDEUS

Back 68

• Pulls hyoid bone down upon contraction.
• Can also pull larynx backward.
• Begins at border of scapula.
• Passes behind sternocleidomastoid muscle, turns upward.
• Attaches to lower border of hyoid.
• All muscles work in conjunction with one another.

Front 69

What is the suspensory system?

Back 69

• Suspends the larynx in the throat.
• Major ligament of principle suspensory system
is STYLOHYOID LIGAMENT.
• It suspends hyoid from base of skull.
• Other ligamentous membranes
connect hyoid bone to
thyroid cartilage, thyroid cartilage to
cricoid cartilage, and cricoid cartilage to
upper tracheal ring.