Laryngeal Anatomy and Phonation

• These notes cover anatomical structures, laryngeal musculature, and various phonation-related concepts

Framework of the Larynx and Hyoid Bone

• Cricoid cartilage makes up part of the larynx
• Thyroid cartilage features superior/inferior cornua, laryngeal prominence, thyroid angle, and thyroid notch
• Arytenoid cartilages have vocal and muscular processes
• Corniculate and cuneiform cartilages are also components
• Epiglottis exists as part of the framework too
• Hyoid bone includes greater and lesser cornua

Ligaments and Membranes

• Thyrohyoid membrane connects the thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone
• Hyoepiglottic ligament connects the hyoid bone to the epiglottis
• Cricothyroid ligament connects the cricoid and thyroid cartilages
• Cricotracheal ligament connects the cricoid cartilage to the trachea

Laryngeal Musculature: Intrinsic

• Lateral cricoarytenoid muscles adduct the vocal folds
• Transverse arytenoid muscles adduct the vocal folds
• Oblique arytenoid muscles adduct the vocal folds
• Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles abduct the vocal folds
• Thyrovocalis muscles, also known as vocalis, are part of the vocal folds
• Cricothyroid muscles have oblique and rectus heads
• Thyromuscularis muscles are also known as muscularis/thyroarytenoid

Laryngeal Musculature: Extrinsic

• Inferior pharyngeal constrictor consists of thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus
• Sternothyroid muscles exist as well
• Thyrohyoid muscles connect the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone

Laryngeal Musculature: Suprahyoid Muscles

• Stylohyoid muscles are within the group

• Mylohyoid muscles included

• Geniohyoid muscles included

• Genioglossus muscles included

• Hyoglossus muscles included

• Digastricus muscles have anterior and posterior bellies

Laryngeal Musculature: Infrahyoid Muscles

• Sternohyoid muscles exist within this group
• Omohyoid muscles consist of two bellies

Laryngoscopic Superior View and Coronal Section

• Be able to identify true and false vocal folds
• Identify aryepiglottic folds, epiglottis, cuneiforms, and arytenoids

Laryngeal Framework

• Understand the size, shape, and composition

Laryngeal Cartilages

• Know the description and function of all laryngeal cartilages which are the Cricoid, Thyroid, Arytenoid, Corniculate, Cuneiform, and Epiglottis

Cricoid Cartilage Landmarks

• Recognize the importance of these landmarks

Thyroid Cartilage Landmarks

• Recognize the importance of these landmarks

Arytenoid Cartilage Landmarks

• Recognize the importance of these landmarks

Hyoid Bone

• Understand the description, function, and importance of landmarks

Cricothyroid and Cricoarytenoid Joints

• Know the importance of these joints

Inner Larynx

• Understand its shape, composition, and cavities (vestibule, aditus laryngis, ventricle)

Laryngeal Ligaments and Membranes

• Functions include the Thyrohyoid membrane and Thyrohyoid ligaments
• Hyoepiglottic and Thyroepiglottic ligaments
• Cricothyroid and Cricotracheal ligaments
• Fibroelastic membrane (quadrangular membrane, conus elasticus)
• Aryepiglottic fold
• Ventricular and Vocal ligaments

Vocal Fold Tissue Layers

• Understand the description and function of all 5 layers
• Understand the two layers that make up the cover and the three that make up the body

Ventricular or False Folds

• Understand their function

Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles

• Functions include Lateral cricoarytenoid, Transverse arytenoid, Oblique arytenoid, and Posterior cricoarytenoid

• Thyrovocalis (medial part of the thyroarytenoid)

• Cricothyroid and Thyromuscularis (lateral part of the thyroarytenoid)

Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles

• Functions include Inferior pharyngeal constrictor
• Sternothyroid and Thyrohyoid

Suprahyoid Muscles

• Functions include Stylohyoid and Mylohyoid
• Geniohyoid, Genioglossus, Hyoglossus, and Digastricus

Infrahyoid Muscles

• Functions include Sternohyoid and Omohyoid

Nonspeech Laryngeal Functions

• Understand three functions and how they work

Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory of Phonation

• Including the Bernoulli principle

Body Cover Theory of Phonation

Three-Mass Model

Vocal Attack/Onset

• Encompasses types of vocal attack

Termination of Phonation

Sustained Phonation

Vocal Register

Common Vocal Registers

Singing vs. Speaking

• Understand how singing differs from speaking

Whispering

Pitch

Oscillation

Optimal Pitch

Prosody

Habitual Pitch

Pitch Range

Pitch Changing Mechanism

Intensity

Intensity Change

Linguistic Aspects

• Understand linguistic aspects of pitch and intensity

Pediatric Larynx

• Note differences in the pediatric larynx

Age-Related Changes

• Note age-related changes of the larynx