Anatomy

Larynx Anatomy

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Larynx Anatomy, Laryngeal Anatomy, Larynx, Vocal Cords

  • See Also
  1. Head and Neck Anatomy
  2. Vocal Cords
  3. Vascular Anatomy of the Head and Neck
  • Physiology
  1. Sounds are generated by Larynx when air us forced through Vocal Cords that are partially closed
  2. Sound is further modified by lip, Tongue and Soft Palate
  • Anatomy
  • Three levels of Larynx (from base of Tongue, down to trachea)
  1. Supraglottis (Tongue base to above true Vocal Cords)
    1. Protected by Hyoid Bone, Thyroid cartilage
    2. Contains epiglottis, false Vocal Cords, arytenoids
  2. Glottis (true Vocal Cords to 1 cm below)
    1. Protected by Thyroid cartilage
    2. Contains true Vocal Cords
  3. Subglottis (below true Vocal Cords to cricoid cartilage)
    1. Protected by cricoid cartilage
  1. Nerve innervation (branches of Vagus Nerve)
    1. Superior laryngeal nerve
      1. Internal branch (enters supraglottis between hyoid and Thyroid cartilages)
      2. External branch (enters glottis laterally via cricothyroid membrane)
    2. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (inferior laryngeal nerve) innervates glottis through cricothyroid membrane
      1. Right - ascends along aortic arch
      2. Left - ascends along subclavian artery
  2. Muscles
    1. Intrinsic Muscles
      1. Fine vocal cord movement for phonation/voice
      2. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve innervates all except cricothyroid Muscles
    2. Extrinsic Muscles
      1. Raise and lower Larynx in neck
  • Anatomy
  • Images
  1. General
    1. entLarynxAnteriorGrayBB951.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. entLarynxPosteriorGrayBB952.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. entLarynxLateralXsGrayBB953.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. entLarynxAnteriorXsGrayBB954.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    5. entLarynxSuperiorGrayBB955.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  2. Cartilage
    1. entLarynxCartilageGrayBB950.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  3. Muscles
    1. entLarynxMusclesGrayBB957.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. entLarynxPosteriorMusclesGrayBB958.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. entLarynxLateralMusclesGrayBB959.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  4. Vocal Cords
    1. entLarynxSuperiorVocalCordsGrayBB956.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. entLarynxSuperiorVocalCordsGrayBB1204.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. entLarynxVocalCordsMusclesGrayBB960.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)