 the arch of the cricoid cartilage with the thyroid cartilage and
the first tracheal ring, respectively.
- The fibrous medial cricothyroid ligament produces a
soft spot inferior to the thyroid cartilage. At this point, the airway is closest to the
skin and most accessible.
Vocal Ligament, Vocal Fold, and Conus Elasticus (p. 842)
- The elastic vocal ligament extends from the junction of
the laminae of the thyroid cartilage anteriorly to the vocal process of the arytenoid
- The vocal ligaments form the skeleton of the vocal fold
and the free edge of the conus elasticus (cricothyroid
ligament), which is an elastic membrane that extends superiorly from the cricoid cartilage
to the vocal ligament.
- Note: cricothyroid ligament or membrane = cricovocal ligament = 1/2 conus elasticus (Grant's
Method of Anatomy 8th Ed).
Quadrangular Membrane and Vestibular Ligament (p. 842)
- This is a thin, submucosal sheet of connective tissue.
- It extends from the arytenoid cartilage to the cartilage of the epiglottis.
- Its free inferior margin constitutes the vestibular ligament,
which is loosely covered by a vestibular fold of mucous
- This fold lies superior to the vocal fold and extends from the thyroid cartilage to the
- The cricothyroid ligament and quadrangular membrane, although separated by the interval
between the vocal and vestibular ligaments, are referred to as the fibroelastic
membrane of the larynx.
Ligaments of the
Epiglottis (p. 842)
- The epiglottis is attached to the hyoid bone by the hyoepiglottic ligament.
- To the posterior part of the tongue by the median glossoepiglottic fold.
- To the sides of the pharynx by the lateral glossoepiglottic folds.
- To the thyroid cartilage by the thyroepiglottic ligament.
- The mucous membrane covering the epiglottis is reflected to the posterior part of the
tongue as one medial and two lateral glossoepiglottic folds.
Between these folds are depressions called epiglottic valleculae.
The Interior of the
- The cavity of the larynx extends from the inlet of the larynx,
through which it communicates with the laryngopharynx, to the level of the inferior border
of the cricoid cartilage, where it is continuous with the cavity of the trachea.
- The superior and inferior projecting folds of mucous membrane on each side, called the vestibular folds divide the larynx into three
- Superior to the vestibular folds, the cavity is called the vestibule
of the larynx.
- Between the vestibular folds, superior to the vocal folds is the ventricle
of the larynx.
- This is the smallest of the three cavities of the larynx.
- It extends laterally between the two folds as the sinus of the
- From each sinus, a saccule of the larynx passes
superiorly between the vestibular fold and the thyroid lamina.
- The inferior compartment of the larynx is called the infraglottic
- It extends from the vocal folds to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage, where
it is continuous with the cavity of the trachea.
The Vocal Folds (pp. 843-4)
- The vocal folds (vocal cords) are concerned with the production of
- The apex of each wedge-shaped vocal fold projects medially into the laryngeal cavity,
and its base lies against the lamina of the thyroid cartilage.
- Each vocal fold consists of the vocal ligament, the conus elasticus, muscle fibres, and
a covering of mucous membrane.
- The rima glottidis is the aperture between the vocal
- The term glottis refers to the vocal folds, the rima
glottidis, and the narrow part of the larynx at the level of the vocal folds.
- The glottis is the part of the larynx most concerned with sound
- The shape of the rima glottidis varies according to the position of the vocal folds.
- During ordinary breathing, it is narrow and wedge-shaped; during forced respiration, it
- The vocal folds are closely approximated during speaking so that the rima glottidis
appears as a linear slit.
The Vestibular Folds (p. 844)
- These folds extend between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages and play
little or no part in voice production.
- They consist of two thick folds of mucous membrane enclosing the vestibu