Lakhasly

Anatomy of the Larynx The larynx is commonly known as the voice box as it houses the vocal folds that are responsible for sound production (phonation).Below the vocal folds the epithelium is pseudo stratified cil- iated columnar.The airway cavity of the larynx extends from a triangular shaped inlet at the epiglot- tis to a circular outlet inferior to the cricoid cartilage where it is continuous with the lumen of the trachea.The laryngeal skeleton consists of nine cartilages, three single (thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis) and three paired (arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform), connected by membranes and ligaments.The vestibular and vocal folds divide the larynx into (1) the vestibule (upper chamber), located above the vestibular folds; (2) the ventricle, the small middle chamber located between the vestibular and vocal folds; and (3) the infraglottic cavity, which extends from the vocal folds to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage .It is found in the anterior neck, connecting the hypopharynx with the trachea, which extends vertically from the tip of the epiglottis to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage .The paired laryngeal cartilages form part of the lateral and posterior walls of the larynx, which are: o The arytenoid cartilages--two upward protrusions located at the back of the larynx.o The cuneiform cartilages--small elongated rod-like elastic cartilages located at the apex of each arytenoid cartilage, and at the base of the epiglottis above and anterior to the corniculate cartilage.It is shaped like a triangular shield and is usually larger in males than in females due to male sex hormones stimulating its growth during puberty.The arytenoid cartilages are attached to the cricoarytenoid muscles, an- chored by the cricoid cartilage and attached to the vocal cords.During swallowing of food, the epiglottis bends down and meets the corniculate cartilages to close off the pathway to the trachea.At the top of the larynx is the epiglottis which acts as a flap that closes off the trachea during the act of swallowing to direct food into the oesopha- gus instead of the trachea.The single laryngeal cartilages are: o The epiglottis--a leaf-shaped piece of elastic cartilage located at the top of the larynx.Two pairs of mucous membrane foldings stretch inward and horizontally across the larynx.Here mucociliary action directs mucous movement upward towards the pharynx, so that the mucous is continually being moved away from the lungs.It serves as a sphincter in transmitting air from the oropharynx to the trachea and also in creating sounds for speech.It is inferiorly anchored at one end between the back of the tongue and the anterior rim of the thyroid cartilage.o The thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple)--formed by the fusion of two cartilage plates and is the largest cartilage of the larynx.o The cricoid cartilage--a signet ring shaped cartilage so-called because the signet end forms part of the posterior wall of the larynx.o The corniculate cartilages--small and cone-shaped hyaline cartilages that sit on top of each of the arytenoid cartilages.The upper pair of folds are the vestibular folds (ventricular or false folds) which only play a minimal role in phonation but protect the more delicate folds below.They are attached posteriorly to the arytenoid cartilages, and anteriorly to the thyroid cartilage.The interior surface of the superior portion of the larynx is made up of stratified squamous epithelium which is an area that is subject to food contact.

Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx is commonly known as the voice box as it houses the vocal folds that are
responsible for sound production (phonation). It serves as a sphincter in transmitting
air from the oropharynx to the trachea and also in creating sounds for speech. It
is found in the anterior neck, connecting the hypopharynx with the trachea, which
extends vertically from the tip of the epiglottis to the inferior border of the cricoid
cartilage . At the top of the larynx is the epiglottis which acts as a flap that closes off the trachea during the act of swallowing to direct food into the oesopha-
gus instead of the trachea. The laryngeal skeleton consists of nine cartilages, three
single (thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis) and three paired (arytenoid, corniculate, and
cuneiform), connected by membranes and ligaments. The hyoid bone is connected
to the larynx but is not considered part of the larynx. The single laryngeal cartilages
are:
• The epiglottis—a leaf-shaped piece of elastic cartilage located at the top of the
larynx. It is inferiorly anchored at one end between the back of the tongue and
the anterior rim of the thyroid cartilage. The free superior end bends up and down
like a flap to open and close the opening into the larynx.
• The thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple)—formed by the fusion of two cartilage
plates and is the largest cartilage of the larynx. It is shaped like a triangular shield
and is usually larger in males than in females due to male sex hormones stimulating
its growth during puberty.
• The cricoid cartilage—a signet ring shaped cartilage so-called because the signet
end forms part of the posterior wall of the larynx. It is attached to the top of trachea
and is the most inferiorly placed of the nine cartilages.
The paired laryngeal cartilages form part of the lateral and posterior walls of the
larynx, which are:
• The arytenoid cartilages—two upward protrusions located at the back of the
larynx. The arytenoid cartilages are attached to the cricoarytenoid muscles, an-
chored by the cricoid cartilage and attached to the vocal cords. They are the most
important because they influence the position and tension of the vocal folds.
• The corniculate cartilages—small and cone-shaped hyaline cartilages that sit on
top of each of the arytenoid cartilages. During swallowing of food, the epiglottis bends down and meets the corniculate cartilages to close off the pathway to the
trachea.
• The cuneiform cartilages—small elongated rod-like elastic cartilages located at
the apex of each arytenoid cartilage, and at the base of the epiglottis above and
anterior to the corniculate cartilage.
The airway cavity of the larynx extends from a triangular shaped inlet at the epiglot-
tis to a circular outlet inferior to the cricoid cartilage where it is continuous with
the lumen of the trachea. Two pairs of mucous membrane foldings stretch inward
and horizontally across the larynx. The upper pair of folds are the vestibular folds
(ventricular or false folds) which only play a minimal role in phonation but protect
the more delicate folds below. The lower pair of folds are the true vocal folds, which
form a slit-like opening called the glottis. This is the narrowest part of the larynx. The
vestibular and vocal folds divide the larynx into (1) the vestibule (upper chamber),
located above the vestibular folds; (2) the ventricle, the small middle chamber located
between the vestibular and vocal folds; and (3) the infraglottic cavity, which extends
from the vocal folds to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage . The vocal
cords, are flat triangular bands and white in colour because of their their lack of blood
supply (avascular) nature. They are attached posteriorly to the arytenoid cartilages,
and anteriorly to the thyroid cartilage. The interior surface of the superior portion
of the larynx is made up of stratified squamous epithelium which is an area that is
subject to food contact. Below the vocal folds the epithelium is pseudo stratified cil-
iated columnar. Here mucociliary action directs mucous movement upward towards
the pharynx, so that the mucous is continually being moved away from the lungs.