Thyroepiglottis and Laryngeal Muscles Quiz and Flashcards

Which muscle is responsible for widening the laryngeal inlet?

Which two muscles are responsible for tensing the vocal cords?

What is the result of the contraction of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle?

What is the role of the elastic tissue in the capsules of the cricoarytenoid joints?

Which muscle is responsible for approximating the arytenoid cartilages?

What is the result of the contraction of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?

What is the function of the vocalis muscle?

What happens to the shape of the glottis during deep inspiration?

What is the function of the sphincter at the inlet of the larynx?

What happens to the vocal folds during expiration?

What is the purpose of the Valsalva maneuver?

What is the result of releasing compressed air in the respiratory tract?

Laryngeal Inlet Modification

Two muscles modify the laryngeal inlet: oblique arytenoid muscle (narrows the inlet) and thyroepiglottis muscle (widens the inlet)

Vocal Fold Movement

Five muscles move the vocal folds: cricothyroid, vocalis, thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
Cricothyroid and vocalis muscles tense the vocal cords
Thyroarytenoid muscle relaxes the vocal cords
Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle adducts the vocal cords
Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle abducts the vocal cords
Transverse arytenoid muscle approximates the arytenoid cartilages

Vocal Fold Movement with Respiration

On quiet inspiration, vocal folds abduct and the rima glottidis is triangular in shape
On expiration, vocal folds adduct, leaving a small gap between them
On deep inspiration, vocal folds maximally abduct, and the triangular shape of the glottis becomes a diamond shape

Laryngeal Sphincteric Function

Two sphincters exist in the larynx: one at the inlet and another at the rima glottidis
The sphincter at the inlet is used only during swallowing, narrowing the inlet by the action of the oblique arytenoid and aryepiglottic muscles
The rima glottidis serves as a sphincter in coughing or sneezing
In the Valsalva maneuver, forced expiration takes place against a closed glottis
In abdominal straining, air is often held temporarily in the respiratory tract by closing the rima glottidis

This quiz covers the muscles that modify the laryngeal inlet and move the vocal folds, including their functions and actions. Test your knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the larynx.