ANATOMY OF LARYNX

Eveline
2016.061.067
• it is essentially a valve or sphincter with a triple function:
• (1) that of an open valve in respiration; (2) that of a partially
• closed valve whose orifice can be modulated in phonation;
• (3) that of a closed valve, protecting the trachea
• and bronchial tree during deglutition.
 Anatomy of Larynx
• Midline of the neck
• 4th – 6th cervical vertebrae

• As a sphincter at the junction of the

digestive and respiratory tract with a
triple function:
1. that of an open valve in respiration;
2. that of a partially closed valve whose
orifice can be modulated in
phonation;
3. that of a closed valve, protecting the
trachea and bronchial tree during
deglutition.
Laryngeal Cartilages
There are 2 types of cartilages
1. Paired
• Arytenoid
• Corniculate
• Cuneiform

2. Unpaired
• Thyroid
• Cricoid
• Epiglottis
 Thyroid Cartilage
• The largest cartilage
• Composed of 2 lamina that fused in the
midline and open posteriorly
• Man: 90 degrees  laryngeal
prominence/Adam’s apple
• Female: 120 degrees

• Connects to the hyoid bone by

thyrohyoid membrane (ligament)
 Cricoid Cartilage
• Below the thyroid cartilage, connected
by cricothyroid ligament
• Signet ring shaped  complete ring 
broad plate behind and shallow arch in
front
• Major support for the functioning larynx
• Attached to the first ring of the trachea
by cricotracheal ligament
Arytenoid Cartilages
• Consists of 2 cartilages
• Small & pyramid shaped
• Located at the back of the larynx
• Most important  influences
changes in position and tension of
the vocal folds
• Apex  articulates with small
corniculate
• Base  articulates with the lamina of
the cricoid
• Vocal processes  attach to vocal
ligaments
• Muscular processes  Attach to the
posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid
muscles
Corniculate Cartilages (Cartilages of
Santorini)
• Consists of 2 cartilages
• Conical shaped
• Articulates with the arytenoid
cartilages (apex)
Cuneiform Cartilages (Cartilages of
Wrisberg)
• Consists of 2 cartilages
• Rod shaped
• Anterior to the corniculate cartilages
Epiglottis
• Leaf shaped lamina
• Behind the root of the tongue
• 2 anterior attachment
• Superior  attached to the hyoid
bone
• Inferior  attached to the thyroid
cartilages
 Laryngeal
Folds
• Vestibular folds • Vocal folds
• Fixed folds • Mobile folds
• Formed by mucous • For voice production
membrane • Formed by mucous membrane
• Covering the vestibular • Covering the vocal ligament
ligament • Avascular and white in color
• Vascular and pink in color • Moves with respiration
• Has a gap  rima glottidis/glottis
• The narrowest part of the larynx in adults
• Behind arytenoid cartilages
 Abductor
Intrinsic

Adductor

Laryngeal Muscles

Elevator

Extrinsic

Depressor
 Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles
• To raise, lower or stabilize the larynx •Depressor muscles  displace the
•Elevator muscles  elevation and
larynx downward during respiration
anterior displacement during swallowing - Omohyoid
- Thyrohyoid - Sternothyroid
- Stylohyoid - Sternohyoid
- Digastric
- Geniohyoid
• Middle constrictor muscles, inferior
- Mylohyoid
constrictor muscles and
- Stylopharyngeus
cricopharyngeus muscles
 Intrinsic Laryngeal
Muscles
• Modify the size of the glottic
opening and tension on the vocal
cords
• All muscles are paired and act
synchronously, with the exception
of interarytenoid muscle
Laryngeal
Vasculature
• a. external carotid  a. laryngeal
superior  supraglottis dan glottis
• a. subclavian  a. laryngeal inferior
 subglottis
• v. superior thyroid  v. internal
jugular
• v. inferior thyroid  v.
brachiocephalic
Laryngeal
Lympathics
• Superior to the vocal folds 
superior deep cervical lymph nodes
• Inferior to the vocal folds 
pretracheal/paratracheal lymph
nodes  inferior deep cervical
lymph nodes
Laryngeal
Innervation
• Branch of Vagus Nerve
• Superior laryngeal nerve
• Extrinsic muscles
• Above the vocal cords
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve
• Intrinsic muscles
• Below the vocal cords

All of the intrinsic muscles are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, except the
cricothyroid muscle (superior laryngeal nerve)