278 



Life and Health 



433, The Cricoid Cartilage. The cricoid cartilage, so 

 called from its fancied resemblance to a signet ring, is 

 smaller but thicker and stronger than the thyroid and 

 forms the lower and back part of the cavity of the larynx. 

 This cartilage is quite sensitive to pressure from the fingers 



and is the cause of the sharp pain 

 felt when we try to swallow a 

 large and hard piece of food not 

 properly chewed. 



434. The Arytenoid Cartilages. 

 On the upper edge of the cricoid 

 cartilage are perched a pair of 

 very singular cartilages, pyramidal 

 in shape, called the arytenoid, which 

 are of great importance in the pro- 

 duction of the voice. 



These cartilages are capped 

 with little horn-like projections 

 and give attachment at their 

 anterior angles to the true vocal 

 FIG. 1 50. Diagram of a Sec- cords, and at their posterior angles 

 tional View of Nasal and tQ the musdes which open and 

 Throat Passages. 

 C, nasal cavities; T, tongue; close the glottis, Or Upper Opening 



L, lower jaw; M, mouth; u, of the windpipe. When in their 



uvula; E epiglottis ; G, larynx; natural position the arytenoid 

 O, (Esophagus. 



cartilages resemble somewhat the 

 mouth of a pitcher, hence their name. 



435. The Vocal Cords. The mucous membrane which 

 lines the various cartilages of the larynx is thrown into 

 several folds. Thus, one fold, the free edge of which is 

 formed of a band of elastic fibers, passes horizontally out- 

 wards from each side towards the middle line, at the level 

 of the base of the arytenoid cartilages. 



