THE LARYNX AND THE VOICE. 131 



oesophagus, most of the tongue, the muscles of the pharynx, 

 and so expose the larynx. 



Notice : 



a. The general size and shape. 



b. The front or ventral surface is easily identified by the 

 projection in the cartilage called the Adam's apple. 



c. The epiglottis is the lid at the upper opening. 



1. What is its shape ? 



2. Raise it. 



3. Press it down and see how it closes the opening. 



4. Cut it to find its structure. 



d. The vocal cords are the two elastic pads seen when 

 looking into the larynx. Notice them when closed and 

 when open. 



e. The mucous membrane lines the larynx. Notice how 

 it also lines the oesophagus. 



f. The cartilages. 



1. The large cartilage on the ventral side extend- 

 ing backward and comprising most of the 

 larynx is the thyroid cartilage. 



(1) What is the exact shape ? 



(2) The hyoid bone is attached to its upper 



dorsal corner. 



(3) At the lower dorsal corner, the thyroid is 



articulated with the cricoid cartilage. 

 Notice carefully the articulation. 



(4) The Adam's apple is on this cartilage. 



2. The cricoid cartilage can be found on the ventral 

 side just below the thyroid. It resembles one 



