480 VENTRICLE OF GALEN OR MORGAGNI. 



matter, (see fig. 120.) It is supposed that some of the orifices 

 on the lower part of the epiglottis communicate with this 

 substance. 



This substance is a collection of mucous glands, called 

 glandules epiglottidtz ; the ducts which arise from them are 

 twenty or thirty in number, and perforate the, epiglottis to throw 

 their mucus on the side of^the larynx. 



In the erect position of the body, the epiglottis is situated 

 rather higher up than the arytenoid cartilages, and at the dis- 

 tance of ten or twelve lines from them. 



The mucous membrane which covers the epiglottis, is 

 reflected backwards from the base of the tongue, and is 

 extended from each side of it to the arytenoid cartilages, and 

 being continued into the cavity of the larynx, as well as upon 

 the general surface of the throat, it is necessarily doubled : 

 this doubling forms the lateral margins of the orifice of the 

 cavity of the larynx. In these folds of the membrane are seen 

 some very delicate muscular fibres, forming the Aryteno-epi- 

 glottideus muscle. 



The epiglottis maintains its vertical position, partly from 

 its own elasticity of structure, and partly from the folds of 

 mucous membrane, reflected to it from the tongue, which contain 

 some yellow elastic ligarnentous fibres. 



The membrane continues down the cavity of the larynx, 

 and, covering the upper ligaments, penetrates into the vacuity 

 between them and the lower ligaments, so as to form a cavity 

 on each side of the larynx, opening between the two ligaments, 

 which is called the Ventricle of MorgagnL The shape of 

 each cavity is oblong. Its greatest length extends from 

 behind forward, on each side of the opening into the windpipe 

 formed by the two lower or principal ligaments ; so that when 

 the larynx is removed from the subject, upon looking into it 

 from above, you perceive three apertures : one in the middle, 

 formed by the two lower ligaments ; and one on each side of 

 it, between the lower and upper ligament, which is the orifice 

 of the ventricle of Morgagn^. 

 If a probe be passed* into this ventricle of the larynx, or ven- 



