ANATOMY OF LARYNX

DEVELOPMENT OF LARYNX
Larynx develops from the
tracheobroncheal groove which is
ventral midline respiratory
diverticulum of the foregut.
Epiglottis and the Thyroid cartilage
develop from the fourth branchial
arch.

SITUATION OF LARYNX

Situated in midline of neck from the

level of C-3 to C-6 vertebrae lying in
front of laryngopharynx.

CONSTITUTION OF LARYNX
Formed by a cartilaginous skeleton
held together by ligaments.

At puberty male larynx increases in

size rapidly, and the thyroid cartilage
projects to form the Adams apple.

CARTILAGES OF LARYNX

CARTILAGES OF LARYNXEPIGLOTTIS
Epiglottis-leaf shaped fibro elastic
cartilage and projects behind the
base of the tongue.
The narrow lower border is attached
by the thyro-epiglottic ligament to
the posterior surface of thyroid alae
below thyroid notch.

CARTILAGES OF LARYNXTHYROID CARTILAGE

Largest cartilage of larynx with two
wings or alae joined anteriorly in
midline.
Two alae form a right angle between
them in male while in female the angle
is obtuse. the alae project backwards
and have superior and inferior cornu.

CARTILAGES OF LARYNXCRICOID
It is signet ring shaped with a broad
lamina posteriorly and narrow arch in
front.
cricoid, thyroid and epiglottis are
unpaired cartilages of larynx where
as arytenoid,corniculate and
cuneiform cartilages are paired.

CARTILAGES OF LARYNXARYTENOID
Shaped like a pyramid
Base participates in crico-arytenoid
joint.
Anterior vocal process gives
attachment to vocal cord.
The lateral mescular process
provides attachment to the posterior
and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles

CARTILAGES OF LARYNXCORNICULATE & CUNEIFORM

Corniculate are situated at the apex
of the arytenoids cartilages.

Cuneiform lie in the aryepiglottic

folds, lateral to the Corniculate
cartilages.

JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS

Two synovial joints on either side
1) Cricothyroid joint
2) crico-arytenoid joint
Intrinsic ligaments
1) Quadrangular membrane
2) Conus elasticus
3) thyro-epiglottic ligament

 Extrinsic ligaments
1)Thyrohyoid membrane
2)Medial and lateral thyrohyoid
ligament
3)Cricothyroid membrane
4)Cricotracheal membrane

MUSCLES OF LARYNX-INTRINSIC

INTRINSIC MUSCLES OF LARYNX

AND THEIR ACTION
Posterior crico-arytenoid- Abductor
Lateral crico-arytenoid, inter arytenoid,
thyro arytenoid, cricothyroid- Adductors
Cricothyroid, vocalis and thyroarytenoid- tensors and adductors
Thyro-epiglottic-Opener of laryngeal
inlet
Interarytenoid, aryepiglottic- Closers of
laryngeal inlet

EXTRINSIC MUSCLES
Strap muscles
Pharyngeal muscles including inferior
constrictor muscle

CAVITY OF LARYNX
EXTENT- from laryngeal inlet above
to lower border of cricoid cartilage.
Inlet of larynx communicates with
laryngopharynx.

CAVITY OF LARYNX
Divided into three parts by 2 folds of
mucus membrane: False cords and
True vocal cords
Parts are Vestibule, ventricle and
subglottic space
Length of glottis is about 2.5cm in
adult male and about 7-9mm in a
child

HISTOLOGY OF LARYNX
Mucous membrane lines the entire
larynx.
Stratified squamous epithelium lines
true vocal cords and upper parts of
vestibule.
Columnar ciliated epithelium lines rest
of the cavity.
Mucous glands preset in all parts
except on free edges of vocal cords

BLOOD SUPPLY OF LARYNX

Superior thyroid artery
Inferior thyroid artery
Cricothyroid artery

NERVE SUPPLY OF LARYNX

Superior laryngeal nerve-internal
branch is sensory supplies larynx
above the level of vocal cords and
external branch supplies cricothyroid
muscle.
Recurrent laryngeal nerve-motor
branch supplies all muscles of larynx
except the cricothyroid and sensory
branch supplies subglottis.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
SUPRAGLOTTIS-pre-epiglottic and
upper deep cervical nodes.
GLOTTIS-Lymphatics are practically
absent
SUBGLOTTIS-prelaryngeal and
pretracheal nodes also lower deep
cervical nodes

LARYNGEAL SPACES
PRE-EPIGLOTTIC SPACE
PARAGLOTTIC SPACE
REINKES SPACE