ANATOMY OF LARYNX

MOHAMMED ARSHAD KC
 INTRODUCTION
 Larynx is the upper expanded part of lower
respiratory tract
 Modified for producing sound-voice box or organ of
phonation
 Functions of larynx include:
• Phonation
• Respiration
• Protection
• Deglutition
 LOCATION
 Larynx lies in front of hypopharynx

 C3-C6 level

 extent from root of tongue to trachea

 MOVEMENTS
 Moves vertically & in anteroposterior
direction during swallowing & phonation

 Can also be moved passively from side to side

producing grating sensation called laryngeal
crepitus
 LARYNGEAL CARTILAGES
 3 unpaired :
• Thyroid
• Cricoid
• Epiglottis

 3 paired :
• Arytenoid
• Corniculate
• cuneiform
Thyroid,cricoid,basal part of arytenoid -
hyaline cartilage

Tend to ossify after 25 yrs, seen in radio

graphs

Others- elastic, do not ossify

 THYROID CARTILAGE
• Largest of all cartilages

• Two lamina meet anteriorly forming an angle

of 900 in males &1200 in females

• Vocal cords attached to middle of thyroid

cartilage
 CRICOID CARTILAGE
• Only cartilage forming a complete ring

• Posterior part expanded-Lamina

• Anterior part narrow-arch

• Located at C6 level
 EPIGLOTTIS
• Leaf like, yellow elastic

• Forms anterior wall of laryngeal inlet

• Attached to the body of hyoid bone by

hyoepiglottic ligament-supra hyoid & infra
hyoid epiglottis
• Anterior surface connected with base of
tongue by median & lateral glossoepiglottic
fold

• Depression on each side of median fold -

vallecula
• Posterior surface of epiglottis is
concavoconvex

• So obstruct the view of anterior commisure

during indirect laryngoscopy

• It shows several pits which lodge mucous

gland
 ARYTENOID CARTILAGES
• Paired
• Pyramidal
• Base articulate with cricoid
• Muscular process directed laterally-
attachment to intrinsic laryngeal muscle
• Vocal process directed anteriorly-attachment
to vocal cord
• Apex support corniculate cartilage
 CORNICULATE CARTILAGES
• Paired

• Articulate with apex of arytenoid cartilage

 CUNEIFORM CARTILAGES
• Rod shaped

• Situated in aryepiglottic fold in front of

corniculate cartilage

• Provides passive support to the fold

 LARYNGEAL JOINTS
 CRICOARYTENOID JOINT

• Sinovial joint surrounded by capsular ligament

• Formed b/w base of arytenoid & facet on
upper border of cricoid lamina
• Two type of movement
1. rotatory : arytenoid moves around a vertical
axis-abducting/adducting vocal cords
2. gliding movement: one arytenoid glides
towards other or away from it-closing &
opening the posterior part of glottis
 CRICOTHYROID JOINT

• Sinovial joint
• Formed by inferior cornua of thyroid cartilage
with a facet on cricoid cartilage
• Cricoid rotates in a transverse axis which pass
transversely through these joints
LARYNGEAL MEMBRANES AND LIGAMENTS

 EXTRISIC-attached to structures outside larynx

 INTRINSIC-within the larynx

 EXTRINSIC MEMBRANES AND
LIGAMENTS
• Thyrohyoid membrane

• Cricotracheal membrane

• Hyoepiglottic ligament
 THYROHYOID MEMBRANE

• Connects thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone

• Thickenings-Medial and Lateral Thyrohyoid

Ligaments

• It is pierced by:
osuperior laryngeal vessels
o internal laryngeal nerve
 CRICOTRACHEAL MEMBRANE

• Connects cricoid cartilage to first tracheal ring

HYOEPIGLOTTIC LIGAMENT

• Connects epiglottis to hyoid bone

INTRINSIC MEMBRANES AND LIGAMENTS

• Cricovocal membrane

• Quadrangular membrane

• Cricothyroid membrane

• Thyroepiglottic ligament
 CRICOVOCAL MEMBRANE

• Triangular fibroelastic membrane

• upper border is free and stretches between the
middle of thyroid angle and to the vocal process of
arytenoid cartilage
• Lower border attaches to the arch of cricoid
• Continues upwards and medially with its
counterpart on opposite side forms conus
elasticus
• upper part is thickened to form the vocal ligament
 QUADRANGULAR MEMBRANE

• Stretches between epiglottic and arytenoid

cartilages

• Upper free border forms the aryepiglottic fold

• Lower border forms vestibular ligament

which lies in the false cord
 CRICOTHYROID MEMBRANE
• Anteriorly forms cricothyroid ligament

• Laterally continues as cricovocal membrane

THYROEPIGLOTTIC LIGAMENT

• Attaches epiglottis to thyroid cartilage

THANK YOU