LARYNX. 



125 



portion of the larynx. It con- 

 sists of two quadrilateral plates, 

 which are united in an acute 

 angle in the median line in front ; 

 this angle is usually called the 

 pomufii Adanii,^ which is much 

 larger in men ; it has a deep 

 notch at its upper part.* The 

 upper edge^ is curved, and has 

 the middle thyreo-hyoid ligament 

 attached to it ; the lower edge^ 

 is also curved, and to it is 

 attached the middle crico-thyroid 

 ligament. The posterior edge'' 

 terminates in two processes called 

 cornua, of which the superior^ 

 is the longer, and is attached to 

 the lateral thyreo-hyoid ligament. 



Fig. 106. 



The inferioi' carnu^ is short and 



curved, and receives the lateral crico-thyroid ligament. Upon the 

 external surface^ is an oblique ridge, passing between two tubercles, 

 from which arise the thyreo-hyoid and inferior constrictor muscles. 



The cricoid cartilage is next in size, and situated at the base of 

 the larynx ; its form is that of a thick ring compressed laterally ; its 

 lower edge^ is circular, and attached to the trachea ; its upper edge 

 is oval and oblique, on account of the cartilage being three times as 

 thick behind as it is in front ; the posterior portion of the superior 

 edge has two heads* of a peculiar convexity, for articulating with 

 the arytenoid cartilages; the external surface posteriorly is flattened, 

 giving origin to the posterior crico-arytenoid muscle. (Fig. 107.) 



Fig. 107. 



Fig. 108. 



Fig. 109. 



The arytenoid cartilages are two in number, situated at the upper 

 and back portion of the larynx, and are of a pyramidal shape. 



11* 



