420 



HEAD AND NECK 



Arytaenoid cartilage 



Muscular process of 

 'arytaenoid cartilage 



the thyreoid cartilage. From this it stretches posteriorly to 

 its attachment to the tip and upper border of the processus 

 vocalis, which projects anteriorly from the base of the arytaenoid 

 cartilage. The vocal ligament is composed of yellow elastic 

 fibres. Its medial border is sharp and free and is clothed 

 with mucous membrane, which in this position is thin and 

 firmly bound down to the ligament. Embedded in its anterior 

 extremity there is a minute nodule of condensed elastic tissue, 



called the sesamoid 

 cartilage. 



By removing 

 the mucous mem- 

 brane which lines 

 the bottom of the 

 laryngeal ventricle 

 the dissector will 

 obtain a good view 

 of the parts which 

 bound the rima 

 glottidis viz., an- 

 teriorly^ the angle 

 of the thyreoid 

 cartilage; pos- 

 teriorly, the ary- 

 taenoideus trans- 

 versus muscle ; on 

 each side, the vocal 

 ligament, the pro- 

 cessus vocalis, and 

 the medial surface of the arytaenoid cartilage (p. 160). These 

 parts are clothed with the lining mucous membrane of the 

 larynx. 



Ligamentum Ventriculare. This feeble band supports the 

 ventricular fold. It is weak and indefinite, but somewhat 

 longer than the vocal ligament. Anteriorly, it is attached to 

 the angular depression between the two laminae of the thyreoid 

 cartilage, above the vocal fold and immediately below the 

 attachment of the thyreo-epiglottic ligament ; and it extends 

 posteriorly to a tubercle on the lateral surface of the arytaenoid 

 cartilage above the processus vocalis. It is composed of con- 

 nective tissue and elastic fibres, which are continuous with the 

 fibrous tissue in the ary-epiglottic fold. 



Vocal process of 

 arytaenoid cartilage 



Vocal ligament 

 Lateral part of 

 conus elasticus 



Facet for inferior 



cornu of thyreoid 

 cartilage 



Cricoid cartilage 



FIG. 165. Conus elasticus. The right lamina of 

 the thyreoid cartilage has been removed. 



