CARTILAGES OF THE LARYNX 

 THE LARYNX 



1209 



The larynx (figs. 960, 970, 971,), is a tubular organ, the framework of which is 

 made of cartilages joined together and of elastic membranes. Its inner surface 

 is covered by mucosa. From the membranes are formed a pair of vocal folds 

 which, by the passage of air through the larj^nx, are thrown into vibration and so 

 function in the generation of sound. These folds are affected in respect to their 



Fig. 970. — View of Interior op Larynx as seen from above during Inspiration. 



Vallecula 



Tubercle of epiglottis 



Vocal fold 



Rima glottidis 



Piriform recess 



Arytaenoid commissure 



Base of tongue 



-Median glosso-epiglottic fold 



Epiglottis 



Ventricular fold 

 Ary-epiglottic fold 

 Cuneiform tubercle 

 Corniculate tubercle 



Pharynx 



tension and in their mutual relation by the actions of a system of laryngeal 

 muscles under the control of the vagus nerve and are made thereby, on the one 

 hand, to produce those modifications of the sound involved in the voice and on 

 the other hand to regulate the amount of air passing through the cavity of the 

 larynx. The latter communicates above with the pharynx by means of the 

 opening called the laryngeal aperture, and below with the cavity of the trachea. 

 Figure 970 shows the laryngeal aperture with its boundaries, the epiglottis and 



Fig. 971. — View of Interior of Larynx as seen from above during Vocalisation. 



Base of tongue 

 Median glosso-epiglottic fold 



Ventricular fold 



Vocal fold 



Piriform recess 



Vocal process 



Pharynx 



Epiglottis 



Tubercle of epiglottis 



Ventricle 

 Ary-epiglottic fold 



Cuneiform tubercle 



-Corniculate tubercle 

 Arytaenoid commissure 



the aryepiglottic folds; also the cavity of the larynx where, on the walls right 

 and left, appear the ventricular and vocal folds with the chink called rima glot- 

 tidis separating them. 



The position of the larynx and some of its important parts can be well seen in 

 a median section (fig. 972). 



THE CARTILAGES OF THE LARYNX 



The number of cartilages entering into the framework of the larj'nx is nine, 

 three of which are single and the rest in pairs. Their forms and positions are 

 shown in fig. 973. 



