544 LIGAMENTS OF THE LARYNX. 



lower border and receding angle of the thyroid cartilage, and by its 

 expanded margin to the upper border of the cricoid and base of the 

 arytenoid cartilage. Superiorly it is continuous with the inferior mar- 

 gin of the chorda vocalis. The front of the crico-thyroidean mem- 

 brane is crossed by a small artery, the inferior laryngeal, and is the 

 spot selected for the operation of laryngotomy. Laterally it is cover- 

 ed in by the crico-thyroidei and crico-arytenoidei laterales muscles. 



3. The ligaments of the arytenoid cartilages are six in number : 

 Two Capsular ligaments, with synovial membranes, which articulate 



the arytenoid cartilages with the cricoid ; and the superior and inferior 

 thyro-arytenoid ligaments. The supe- 



Fig. 164.* r ^ or thyro-arytenoid ligaments are two 



thin bands of elastic tissue which are 

 attached in front to the receding angle 

 of the thyroid cartilage, and behind to 



A \\{\\\ IJ/I/V r* *ke anter i r an d inner border of each 



arytenoid cartilage. The lower border 

 of this ligament constitutes the upper 

 boundary of the ventricle of the larynx. 

 The inferior thyro-arytenoid ligaments or 

 chordae vocales, are thicker than the su- 

 perior, and like them composed of elas- 

 tic tissue. Each ligament is attached 

 in front to the receding angle of the 

 thyroid cartilage, and behind to the 

 anterior angle of the base of the aryte- 

 noid. The inferior border of the chorda 

 vocalis is continuous with the lateral 



expansion of the crico-thyroid ligament. The superior border forms 

 the lower boundary of the ventricle of the larynx. The space be- 

 tween the two chordae vocales is the glottis or rima glottidis. 



4. The ligaments of the epiglottis are five in number, namely, three 

 glosso-epiglottic, hyo-epiglottic, and thyro-epiglottic. 



The glosso-epiglottic ligaments (fraena epiglottidis) are three folds of 

 mucous membrane, which connect the anterior surface of the epiglottis 

 with the root of the tongue. The middle of these contains elastic 

 tissue. The hyo-epiglottic ligament is a band of elastic tissue passing 

 between the anterior aspect of the epiglottis near its apex, and the 

 upper margin of the body of the os hyoides. The thyro-epiglottic 

 ligament is a long and slender fasciculus of elastic tissue, which em- 

 braces the apex of the epiglottis, and is inserted into the receding 

 angle of the thyroid cartilage immediately below the anterior fissure 

 and above the attachment of the chordae vocales. 



* A posterior view of the larynx. 1. The thyroid cartilage, its right ala. 2. 

 One of its ascending cornua. 3. One of the descending cornua. 4. 7- The 

 cricoid cartilage. 5, 5. The arytenoid cartilages. 6. The arytenoideus muscle, 

 consisting of oblique and transverse fasciculi. 7. The crico-arytenoidei pos- 

 tici muscles. 8. The epiglottis. 



