Chap, ix.] THE LARYNX AND TRACHEA. 131 



Langier gives some ingenious cases of infanticide 

 where the lethal weapon was merely a long needle. 

 The needle was introduced into the spinal canal 

 between the atlas and axis, and the cord readily cut 

 across. 



Wounds at the side of the neck have divided 

 considerable portions of the brachial plexus without 

 involving other structures. 



The liyoid bone may be broken by direct 

 violence, as from blows, or in the act of throttling. 

 It is sometimes found broken in those who have been 

 hanged. The fracture may involve the body of the 

 bone, but more usually the greater cornu is found 

 broken off. In the New York Medical Record (1882) 

 is the report of the case of a man who felt something 

 snap under his chin while yawning. On examination 

 the hyoid bone was found to be fractured. The bone 

 was also found broken in a patient who threw her 

 head violently backwards to save herself from falling 

 (Hamilton). The fracture is associated with great 

 difficulty and pain in speaking, in moving the tongue, 

 in opening the mouth, and in swallowing, symptoms 

 that may be readily understood. 



The larynx and trachea. With the laryngo- 

 scope the following parts may be made out : The base 

 of the tongue and glosso-epiglottic ligaments ; the 

 superior aperture of the larynx, presenting in front 

 the epiglottis, at the sides the aryteno-epiglottidean 

 folds (in which are two rounded eminences corre- 

 sponding to the cornicula and cuneiform cartilages), 

 and at the back the arytenoid commissure of mucous 

 membrane. Deeply down can be seen the true and 

 false vocal cords, the ventricle, the anterior wall of 

 the larynx, a little of the cricoid cartilage, and more 

 or less of the anterior wall of the trachea. If the 

 glottis be very fully dilated the openings of the two 

 bronchi may be dimly seen. 



