THE LARYNX 423 



mucous membrane which covers it posteriorly and also, to 

 some extent, anteriorly, the epiglottic cartilage has the form 

 of an obovate leaf and is indented by pits and pierced by 

 numerous perforations. In the pits glands are lodged, and 

 through the foramina vessels and, in some cases, nerves 

 pass. The broad end of the cartilage is directed upwards 

 and is free; its margins are to a large extent enclosed within 

 the ary-epiglottic folds. The anterior surface is free only in 

 its upper part. This part is covered with mucous membrane 

 and looks towards the base of the tongue. The posterior 

 surface is covered throughout its whole extent with the 

 mucous membrane of the larynx. The pointed lower end 

 of the cartilage, the petiolus^ is connected by a stout fibrous 

 band, termed the thyreo-epiglottic ligament, to the angle 

 between the laminae of the thyreoid cartilage. 



Epiglottic Ligaments. The epiglottis is bound by 

 ligaments to the base of the tongue, to the side wall of the 

 pharynx, to the hyoid bone, and to the thyreoid cartilage. 

 The glosso-epiglottic fold and the two pharyngo-epiglottic folds 

 have been studied already. In each there is a small quantity 

 of elastic tissue. The hyo -epiglottic ligament is a short, 

 broad elastic band which connects the anterior face of the 

 epiglottis to the upper border of the body of the hyoid bone. 

 The thyreo-epiglottic ligament is strong, elastic, and thick. It 

 proceeds downwards, from the lower pointed extremity of the 

 epiglottis, and is attached to the angular depression between the 

 two laminae of the thyreoid cartilage, below the median notch. 



The triangular interval which is left between the lower 

 part of the cartilage of the epiglottis and the median part of 

 the thyreo-hyoid membrane contains a pad of soft fat, and is 

 imperfectly closed above by the hyo-epiglottic ligament. 



Cartilage Thyreoidea. This is the largest of the laryngeal 

 cartilages. It is composed of two broad and somewhat quadri- 

 lateral plates, termed the lamince, which meet anteriorly at an 

 angle, and become fused along the median plane. Posteriorly, 

 the laminae diverge from each other and enclose a wide 

 angular space. The anterior borders of the laminae are fused 

 only in their lower parts. Above they are separated by a 

 deep, narrow V-shaped notch called the incisura thyreoidea 

 superior. In the adult male the angle formed by the meeting 

 of the anterior borders of the two laminae, especially in the 

 upper part, is very projecting ; and, with the margins of the 



