ANATOMY OF LARYNX

Interior of Larynx
Interior of Larynx
The laryngeal cavity includes the:
• Laryngeal vestibule: between the laryngeal inlet and the
vestibular folds.
• Middle part of the laryngeal cavity: the central cavity
(airway) between the vestibular and vocal folds.
• Laryngeal ventricle: recesses extending laterally from the
middle part of the laryngeal cavity between vestibular and
vocal folds.
• Infraglottic cavity: the inferior cavity of the larynx between
the vocal folds and the inferior border of the
Interior of Larynx
Interior of Larynx
The vocal folds control sound production. Each vocal fold
contains a:
• Vocal ligament, consisting of thickened elastic tissue that
is the medial free edge of the conus elasticus
• Vocalis muscle, composed of exceptionally fi ne muscle fi
bers immediately lateral to and terminating at intervals
relative to the length of the vocal ligaments
Interior of Larynx
Extrinsic Muscle
Intrinsic Muscles
Vascularization & Innervation
Arteries of Larynx
• The superior laryngeal artery, branches of the superior
thyroid artery, accompanies the internal branch of the
superior laryngeal nerve through the thyrohyoid
membrane and branches to supply the internal surface of
the larynx.
• The cricothyroid artery, a small branch of the superior
thyroid artery, supplies the cricothyroid muscle.
• The inferior laryngeal artery, a branch of the inferior
thyroid artery, accompanies the inferior laryngeal nerve
(terminal part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve) and
supplies the mucous membrane and muscles in the
inferior part of the larynx.
Veins of Larynx.
• The superior laryngeal vein usually joins the superior
thyroid vein and through it drains into the IJV.
• The inferior laryngeal vein joins the inferior thyroid vein
or the venous plexus of veins on the anterior aspect of the
trachea, which empties into the left brachiocephalic vein.
Lymphatics of Larynx.
• The laryngeal lymphatic vessels superior to the vocal
folds accompany the superior laryngeal artery through the
thyrohyoid membrane and drain into the superior deep
cervical lymph nodes.
• The lymphatic vessels inferior to the vocal folds drain into
the pretracheal or paratracheal lymph nodes, which drain
into the inferior deep cervical lymph nodes.
Nerves of Larynx.
The nerves of the larynx are the superior and inferior
laryngeal branches of the vagus nerves (CN X).
Nerves of Larynx.
• The superior laryngeal nerve arises from the inferior
vagal ganglion at the superior end of the carotid triangle.
Divides into two terminal branches within the carotid
sheath: the internal laryngeal nerve (sensory and
autonomic) and the external laryngeal nerve (motor).
• The inferior laryngeal nerve, the continuation of the
recurrent laryngeal nerve (a branch of the vagus nerve),
enters the larynx by passing deep to the inferior border of
the inferior pharyngeal constrictor and medial to the
lamina of the thyroid cartilage. It divides into anterior
and posterior branches, which accompany the inferior
laryngeal artery into the larynx.