478 ARYTENOID CARTILAGES. 



symmetrical sides of the cartilage meet, and in which is 

 attached the thyro-arytenoid muscles, the pedicle of the epi- 

 glottis and one end of the vocal ligaments. The upper margin 

 of the cartilage presents a curved appearance like that of the 

 italic \ongf; a similar curvature is also observable on its pos- 

 terior margin. — 



The Arytenoid cartilages are two small 

 bodies of a triangular or pyramidal form 

 and slightly curved backward. They are 

 placed upon the upper and posterior edge 

 of the cricoid cartilage, near to each other ; 

 their upper ends, taken together, resem- 

 ble the mouth of a pitcher or ewer ; from 

 which circumstance their name is derived. 

 Their bases are broad ; and on their lower surfaces is a cavity, 

 which corresponds with the convex edge of the cricoid carti- 

 lage, to which they are applied. ■ At these places, a regular 

 movable articulation is formed, by a capsular ligament between 

 each of these cartilages and the cricoid, in consequence of 

 which they can be inclined backward or forward, inward or 



outward. 



From the anterior part of each of these cartilages, near the 

 base, a tendinous cord passes forward, in a direction which is 

 horizontal when the body is erect, to the internal surface of the 

 angle of the thyroid. These ligamftits are not perfectly parallel 

 to each other ; they are nearer before than behind. The 

 aperture between them is from two to five lines wide when \he 

 muscles are not in action ; and this aperturef is the orifice of 

 the windpipe : for the exterior space, between these ligaments 

 and the circumference of the thyroid, is closed up by mem- 



* Vertical section of the larynx, h, Os hyoides. t, Thyroid cartilages, c c, 

 Cricoid cartilage, a, Arytenoid cartilage, v, Ventricle of the larynx, bounded 

 below by the ligamenta vocales, and above by the superior ligaments of the 

 glottis, e, Epiglottis cartilage, g, Ligamentous attachment of the tongue to 

 the OS hyoides. b, Trachea cut off at the third ring. The lining membrane is 

 left out in this section. 



t It forms also the ritna glottidis of the larynx. 



