THE LARYNX 



1077 



by a mucous bursa, which facilitates the upward movement of the larynx during 

 deglutition. Its middle thicker part is termed the middle hyothyroid ligament 

 {ligamentum hyothyreoideum medium; middle thyrohyoid ligament) , its lateral thinner 

 portions are pierced by the superior laryngeal vessels and the internal branch of 

 the superior laryngeal nerve. Its anterior surface is in relation with the Thyreo- 

 hyoideus, Sternohyoideus, and Omohyoideus, and with the body of the hyoid 

 bone. 



The Lateral Hyothyroid Ligament (ligamentum hyothyreoideum laterals; lateral 

 thyrohyoid ligament) is a round elastic cord, which forms the posterior border 

 of the hyothyroid membrane and passes between the tip of the superior cornu of 

 the thyroid cartilage and the extremity of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. 

 A small cartilaginous nodule (cartilago triticea), sometimes bony, is frequently 

 found in it. 



Hyoid bone 



Cartilago triticea 

 Hyothyroid membrane 



Cornicvlate cartilage 



Arytenoid 



Posterior crico-arytenoid 

 ligament 



Cricothyroid 

 articulation 



Fio. 952. Ligaments of the larynx. Posterior view. 



The Epiglottis is connected with the hyoid bone by an elastic band, the hyo- 

 epiglottic ligament (ligamentum hyoepiglotticum] , which extends from the anterior 

 surface of the epiglottis to the upper border of the body of the hyoid bone. The 

 glossoepiglottic folds of mucous membrane (page 1075) may also be considered 

 as extrinsic ligaments of the epiglottis. 



^ The Cricotracheal Ligament (ligamentum cricotracheale} connects the cricoid car- 

 tilage with the first ring of the trachea. It resembles the fibrous membrane which 

 connects the cartilaginous rings of the trachea to each other. 



Intrinsic Ligaments. Beneath the mucous membrane of the larynx is a broad 

 sheet of fibrous tissue containing many elastic fibers, and termed the elastic membrane 

 of the larynx. It is subdivided on either side by the interval between the ven- 



