Chap. 21.] Larynx, &V. 229 



part of the larynx. It confifts of two almoft quadran- 

 gular plates of cartilage, which unite before, at an ob- 

 tufe angle, but behind are feparate. This cartilage as 

 harder and more prominent in men than in women, 

 and has therefore been called the pomum Adami. At 

 its pofterior part the thyroid cartilage has precedes 

 above and below. The upper are united by means of 

 ligaments with the procefTes of the os hyoides. The 

 lower, which are Ihorter, are connected to the cricoid 

 cartilage. The two arytenoid cartilages are the fmalleft, 

 which contribute to form the larynx. They are equal 

 in fize, and when joined together referable the Ipout 

 of an ewer. They are placed perpendicularly in two 

 excavations of the cricoid cartilage at its pofterior part. 

 The glottis is formed of two ligaments, in the follow- 

 ing manner : 



Anteriorly the bafe of each arytenoid cartilage is 

 fixed to one end of a ligamentary cord, which, by its 

 other end, is inferted about the middle of the concave 

 fide of the anterior portion of the thyroid. At the 

 latter infertlon the two ligaments touch each other; 

 but a fmall fpace is left between them, where they are 

 connected with the arytenoid cartilages. This chink 

 is what is called the rima glottidis, which is capable of 

 contraftion and dilatation. 



Under thefe ligaments are two fmaller, which alfo 

 arife from the arytenoid cartilages, and, running for- 

 wards, are attached to the middle part of the thyroid 

 cartilage. Between thefe fuperior and inferior liga- 

 ments there is on each fide a fmall bag or cavity, 

 called the vemriculus Galeni. 



Over the opening of the larynx, the rima glottidis, 



is placed a cartilaginous fubftance, called the epiglottis; 



it is fituated above the anterior or convex portion of 



the* cartilage thyroids, and its lower extremity is con- 



Qj netted 



