|The larynx is a special part of the body that functions as an airway to the lungs as well as providing us with a way of communicating (vocalizing). These functions are all possible because of the skeletal components and the muscles that act on them. Before learning the details, memorize the various parts of the skeleton so that you can then visually place the muscles in the correct places and appreciate how they do their jobs.|
|The skeleton of the larynx is made up of the hyoid bone and several
The thyroid cartilage is made up of two laminae that fuse
anteriorly for form the laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple). The angle
that they make is usually more acute in males and therefore, is more prominent.
The cricoid cartilage is the only complete cartilage of the larynx. Anteriorly is the cricoid arch. The arch expands as you trace it posteriorly where it forms a square-shaped lamina.
The arytenoid cartilages sit on top of the cricoid lamina, posteriorly and articulate there at the cricoarytenoid joints. The arytenoid cartilages slide medially and laterally, anteriorly and posteriorly and rotate at these joints. The cartilage is pyramidal in shape with the base being triangular in shape with 3 processes. The vocal process extends anteriorly, the muscular process lies laterally and third process is not well defined. The vocal ligament (cord) extends from the vocal process to the back side of the thyroid cartilage. You can appreciate that any movement of the arytenoid cartilage will have an effect on the placement of the vocal cords (making them loose or taut, bring them together or spreading them apart).
The epiglottis is attached inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage by a small stem. Its lateral and superior borders are free. The superior border can be seen through the oral cavity.
|Various parts of the larynx area closed by connective tissue membranes.
The thyrohyoid membrane was seen in the study of the neck and is pierced by the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery. It extends from the upper border of the thyroid cartilage to the greater wing of the hyoid bone.
The quadrangular membrane is free at the top and bottom but attached posteriorly to the arytenoid cartilage and anteriorly to the side of the epiglottis. The lower free margin forms the false vocal cord (or vestibular fold).
The cricothyroid membrane (or conus elasticus) extends from the upper margin of the cricoid cartilage to attach to the back of the thyroid cartilage anteriorly and the arytenoid cartilage posteriorly. Its upper free margin is the vocal ligament (true vocal cord).
|The muscles of the larynx can be difficult to clean and identify. They
consists of muscles that change the opening of the glottis as well as the
tenseness of the vocal cord, thereby keeping it open for respiration and
helps us vocalize.
The cricothyroid muscle lies anterior and external to the larynx and was identified in the study of the muscular triangle of the neck. It arises from the cricoid cartilage and attaches into the inferior horn and lower margin of the thyroid cartilage. When it contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage forward, increasing the distance between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages and tensing the vocal cord. It is supplied by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (X).
|By removing one lamina of the thyroid cartilage, you can see the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle. As can be seen in the diagram, this muscle arises from the upper border of the cricoid cartilage and inserts onto the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage.|
|The remainder of the major muscles can be seen from the back of the
larynx. Located in the upper part of the aryepiglottic fold is the aryepiglottic
muscle. It is attached to the lateral border of the epiglottis and becomes
the oblique arytenoid which then attaches into the arytenoid cartilage.
This muscle works as a purse string to close the opening of the larynx
when swallowing, protecting the larynx.
Running from arytenoid to arytenoid cartilages is the transverse arytenoideus muscle. This muscle pulls the arytenoids together when they contract.
Lastly, we have the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. They arise from the expanse of the cricoid lamina and insert into the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilages. These are the only muscles that open the space between the vocal cords (abduct).
Another muscle, not shown, is the thyroarytenoideus. This muscle extends from the back of the thyroid cartilage to the front side of the arytenoid cartilage. It pulls the arytenoid cartilage forward when it contracts, thus loosening the vocal ligament.
The deep upper part of this muscle is the vocalis muscle. This muscle can change the tenseness of small segments of the vocal cord in order to vary tonal qualities of our voice.
|I consider that the major function of the larynx is to keep the airway
open. This means keeping the space between the vocal cords (rima glottidis)
open. If it isn't open, we don't breathe so the second function doesn't
The second important function is vocalization and this is a very complicated procedure that requires a variety of parts of the body to function together.
Figure 1 points out the parts of the larynx involved in breathing and vocalization.
The movements include:
Figure 4 shows that the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles adduct the arytenoid cartilages to close the rima glottidis.
Figure 5 demonstrates that the thyroarytenoideus muscle pulls the arytenoid cartilages forward, thereby loosening the vocal cord.
Figure 6 shows the only abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoideus muscle. This muscle rotates the arytenoid cartilages laterally (abduct), causing the vocal cords to separate from one another, opening the rima glottidis.
Figure 7 shows the cricothyroid muscle. As mentioned before, this muscle is external to the larynx and can be seen in the muscular triangle of the neck. This muscle rotates the thyroid cartilage forward around an axis through the cricothyroid joint. This action stretches the vocal cord, thereby tensing it.
|In considering the process of speech, you must first understand that
sounds are produced by blowing air past the vocal cords. The air produces
vibrations in the vocal cords, forming the sounds that come out of the
mouth. The air is pushed out of the lungs by relaxing the diaphragm and
contracting muscles of the abdominal wall. The abdominal muscles are supplied
by the lower intercostal nerves.
The tonal and pitch variations occur when the vocal cord is made more tense or looser. Tense cords produce higher pitch, loose cords form lower pitch. The muscles involved are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal and external laryngeal nerves.
Also changing the vocal cords, we have the stylopharyngeus muscles that pull the pharynx and larynx upward. This serves to shorten the tubal length of the air passage between the base of the skull (body of sphenoid) and the vocal cords. As found in an organ, longer pipes are low pitch and shorter pipes are high pitch. The stylopharyngeus are supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerves.
The suprahyoid muscles (digastrics, geniohyoid) pull the hyoid bone up and the larynx follows it. The anterior digastric is supplied by the nerve to mylohyoid. The posterior belly of the digastric is supplied by the facial nerve. The geniohyoid muscle is supplied by C1.
The infrahyoid muscles (sternothyroid, omohyoid) pull the larynx down. They are supplied by branches of the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3).
The tongue is used to add various inflections to our voice by varying its surface contour (intrinsic muscles) supplied by the hypoglossal nerve.
Muscles of facial expression, especially around the mouth and cheeks, are also used to vary the quality of our speech, facial nerve.
Finally, if you notice what must move when we speak, the mandible moves up and down by contraction of the muscles of mastication, mandibular division of trigeminal nerve.
This description of speech production is an oversimplification, but gives you an idea of just how many nerves and muscles are involved in providing us with the ability to speak.
Another function of the muscles of the larynx is protection of the airway. The major muscle that performs this protection is the aryepiglottic muscle. When you swallow, the aryepiglottic muscle closes off the entrance to the larynx through a purse-string action. It pulls the sides of the epiglottis back and narrows the inlet to the larynx. Muscle responsible is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve. To help in this protection, all muscles that adduct or tense the vocal cord can also narrow the rima glottidis protecting the trachea and lungs.
The cough reflex is also designed to protect the air way. Should something get into the vestibule of the larynx, sensory fibers from the internal laryngeal nerve carries a signal to the central nervous system and from there an impulse is sent to the abdominal muscles which then force a blast of air through the larynx which expels the foreign object.
|The sagittal view of the larynx reveals relationships that aren't otherwise
The aryepiglottic folds form the borders of the opening to the larynx. You can see that they extend from the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages.
The first space in the larynx is called the vestibule which extends down to the vestibular fold (false vocal cord).
Just beneath the vestibular fold is the ventricle which extends laterally and is connected anteriorly to a small sac called the saccule. The saccule has special secretory cells that produce a secretion to keep the vocal cords moist.
Beneath the ventricle is the true vocal cord that extends from the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage to the back side of the thyroid cartilage.
The thin space between the left and right vocal cords is called the rima glottidis through which air must pass in order to vocalize and breathe.
The area below rima glottidis is called the infraglottic cavity.
Below the infraglottic cavity is the trachea.
|Oral Cavity, Oropharynx, Tonsil||Table of Cranial Nerves|
|Copyright© 1999 by Wesley Norman, PhD, DSc|