THE LARYNX 



411 



the middle of the laryngeal cavity, of which it constitutes 

 the narrowest part. Anteriorly it corresponds to the interval 

 between the vocal folds ; posteriorly it corresponds to the 

 interval between the bases and vocal processes of the ary- 

 taenoid cartilages (Fig. 160). It is composed, therefore, of 

 two very distinct parts (i,) a narrow anterior portion, be- 

 tween the vocal folds, involving less than two-thirds of its 

 length, and called 

 the pars inter- \ / Hyoid bo " e 



_. * \\/ Hyo-epiglottic ligament 



nienwranacea ; ( 2 ) a 

 broader, shorter por- 

 tion, between the 

 arytsenoid cartilages, 

 termed the pars in- 

 tercartilaginea. The 

 form of the rima 

 glottidis undergoes 

 frequent alterations 

 in the living person. 

 During ordinary 

 quiet respiration it is 

 lanceolate in outline, 

 and the intermem- 

 branous part has 

 the form of an elon- 

 gated triangle with 

 the base directed 

 posteriorly. When 

 the glottis is widely 

 opened the broadest 

 part of the fissure 

 lies between the ex- 

 tremities of the vocal 

 processes of the arytoenoid cartilages, and there each side 

 of the rima presents a marked angle. The two vocal folds, 

 on the other hand, may be approximated so closely to each 

 other, as in singing a high note, that the intermembranous 

 part is reduced to a linear chink. The length of the entire 

 fissure differs considerably in the two sexes. In the male 

 its average length is 23 mm. ; in the female, 17 mm. 



The lateral wall of the larynx, in the interval between the 

 ventricular and the vocal folds, shows a pocket-like depression 



Cartilage of epiglottis 

 Fatty pad 

 Thyreo-hyoid membrane 



Thyreoid cartilage 



Elevation produced by 

 cuneiform cartilage 

 Ventricular fold 



Philtrum ventriculi 

 Elevation produced 

 byarytaenoid cardiac e 

 Laryngeal ventricle 



Vocal fold 

 Arytaenoid muscle 



Processus vocal is 



Cricoid cartilage 

 Cricoid cartilage 



FlG. 1 59. Median section through the Larynx 

 to show the Lateral Wall of its Right Half. 



