Larynx

The larynx is a cartilaginous segment of the respiratory tract located in the anterior aspect
of the neck. It produces voice. It extends from the root of the tongue to the trachea.
Dimension:
Length- 4.3cm
Anteroposterior diameter- 3.6 cm

Boundaries:

– Superiorly it attaches to hyoid bone and opens into laryngopharynx

– Inferiorly trachea.
– Posteriorly esophagus
Skeleton
The larynx has 9 cartilage-
1.Unpaired cartilages
 Epiglottis
 Cricoid
 Thyroid
2. paired cartilages
 Arytenoid
 Corniculate
 Cuneiform

Thyroid cartilage – it consists of two fused plates of hyaline cartilage that form the anterior wall
of the larynx and give it a triangular shape, called the laryngeal prominence or adam’s apple. It
is more prominence in male.
Cricoid cartilage- Cricoid meaning "ring-shaped". Is the only complete ring of cartilage around
the trachea. It is made of hyaline cartilage.

Epiglottis- The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from
entering the trachea and the lungs. It stays open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx.
During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs, forcing the swallowed liquids
or food to go along the oesophagus toward the stomach instead. It is covered anteriorly with
stratified squamous epithelium and posteriorly with respiratory epithelium.

Arytenoid cartilage- The arytenoid cartilages are a pair of small three-sided pyramids which

form part of the larynx. They are the site of attachment of the vocal cords. The arytenoid cartilages
allow for movement of the vocal cords by articulating with the cricoid cartilage. 

Corniculate- The corniculate cartilages are two small elastic cartilage, which articulate with

the arytenoid cartilages.
Cuneiform- the cuneiform cartilages are two small, elongated pieces of yellow elastic cartilage.
They are located above and in front of the corniculate cartilages.

Ligaments of larynx:

There are two types of ligaments: extrinsic ligaments that attach the larynx to other structures
such as the hyoid or the trachea, and the intrinsic ligaments that connect the larynx cartilages
between them.
 The intrinsic ligaments are the cricothyroid, cricocorniculate, thyroepiglottic,
thyroarytenoid, and the arytenoidepiglottic ligaments.
 The extrinsic ligaments are the thyrohyoid, hyoepiglottic and cricotracheal ligaments.
Vocal folds or vocal cords:

 They are two wedge shaped, pearly white folds of mucus membrane stretching from the
angle of the thyroid cartilage to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilages.
 The fissure between the vocal cords is called the rima glottis.
 The vocal folds, also known as vocal cords, are located within the larynx
at the top of the trachea. They are open during inhalation and come
together to close during swallowing and phonation.
 When closed, the vocal folds may vibrate and modulate the expelled
airflow from the lungs to produce speech and singing.
Muscles of larynx:

Intrinsic Muscles: The intrinsic muscles of the larynx are responsible for sound production and
the movements of the laryngeal cartilages and folds themselves. Their attachments fall between
laryngeal cartilages. With the exception of the transverse arytenoid muscle, these muscles are
paired bilaterally.
 Oblique arytenoid muscle
 Transverse arytenoid muscle
 Aryepiglottic muscle
 Thyroepiglottic muscle
 Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
 Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
 Thyroarytenoid muscle
 Vocalis muscle
 Cricothyroid muscle
Extrinsic Muscles: These muscles are found in bilateral pairs and aid in the movement of the
larynx at a gross level.
Extrinsic muscles that attach directly to the larynx:
 Sternothyroid muscle
 Thyrohyoid muscle
 Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles
Nerve supply
Motor supply:
All the intrinsic muscles of larynx, except the cricothyroid are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Sensory supply:
The mucosa above the vocal cords is supplied by the internal laryngeal nerve and below the vocal cords
by recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Blood supply:

The blood supply to the larynx comes from the superior and inferior laryngeal arteries.
The venues supply is thyroid veins, which drain into internal jugular and subclavian veins
respectively.
Trachea:
The trachea, or windpipe, is a 11-12 cm long fibro cartilaginous tube of the lower respiratory tract.

The trachea begins just under the larynx (voice box) and
runs down behind the sternum. The trachea then divides
into two smaller tubes called bronchi.
The trachea is composed of about 20 rings of tough
cartilage. The back part of each ring is made of muscle and
connective tissue. Mucosa lines the inside of the trachea.

Blood supply: Arterial: tracheal branches of inferior thyroid artery

Venous: inferior thyroid venous plexus