Synonyms
Adam’s apple, glottis, epiglottis, laryngitis, cancer of the throat, croup, pseudocroup Medical: Larynx
General information
The larynx connects the pharynx with the trachea. It is mainly used for breathing and voice formation. It is also involved in the swallowing process and acts as a valve to prevent food and drink from entering the deeper airways.
In men, the larynx emerges after puberty as the “Adam’s apple” and ensures a deeper voice. A cough reflex is triggered when a foreign body enters the larynx. Here the larynx supports the formation of a strong air stream so that the foreign body can be transported out.
Anatomy and Function
The larynx consists of different cartilages, which are converted more and more into bones at an advanced age. It consists of the following parts of cartilage: For clinical and functional reasons, the larynx is divided into three levels: The cartilages are connected by various ligaments and muscles and are therefore mobile. For functional reasons, the larynx is again divided into different muscle groups:
- Thyroid cartilage (Cartilago thyroidea)
- Ring cartilage (Cartilago cricoidea)
- Stellar cartilage (Cartilago arytaenoidea, ary cartilage)
- Epiglottis
- Supraglottic space (Vestibulum laryngitis)
- Glottischer Raum (Glottis, Rima glottidis)
- Subglottic space
- Vocal cord tensors: M. cricothyroideus, M. vocalis
- Opener of the glottis: M. cricoarytaenoideus posterior
- Closing muscles of the glottis: M. cricoarytaenoideus lateralis and M. arytaenoideus transversus
- Throat
- Thyroid cartilage of the larynx
- Thyroid gland
- Trachea (windpipe)
Tasks
When inhaled, air flows through the larynx after leaving the nasopharynx before entering the trachea. When breathing out, the air flows through the larynx in the opposite direction. The larynx is thus the uppermost section of the respiratory tract which the chyme cannot reach during the act of swallowing.
In addition, the air flowing past during exhalation is used to make the vocal chords (the vocal chords are parts of the vocal folds) vibrate, producing a modulated tone. This enables us to speak. Above the larynx is the epiglottis, which closes and protects the larynx and thus the airways when swallowed.
The larynx is a complicated organ, which consists mainly of connective tissue, ligaments, muscles and cartilage. The flexible cartilage mainly serves to protect the sensitive airways and vocal cords, but also determines important characteristics of the voice. The vocal cords are attached to special cartilages.
These act like set screws and thus enable above all a change in the pitch of the voice. When breathing, the larynx is the uppermost section of the airways reserved exclusively for air. The air you breathe must always pass through the vocal folds when passing through the larynx.
This gap is therefore widened during normal breathing. In various diseases such as laryngitis, the vocal folds can swell and make air passage difficult. This becomes noticeable as hoarseness.
Also the feeling of having a lump in the throat can be caused by a swelling of the vocal folds or a general narrowing of the larynx. When swallowing, the respiratory tract must be protected from the chyme. The larynx is pulled forward and upwards by the neck muscles.
This is also clearly visible from outside as a movement of the thyroid cartilage. As a result, the epiglottis folds over the larynx and closes it, which further prevents food chyme from entering the airways. If this does not succeed, the food is swallowed.
Swallowed food gets into the respiratory tract and can block it, causing a severe irritation of the throat. This is usually sufficient to clear the airways. If this is not the case, a strong tapping of the back, as well as in extreme cases the Heimlich maneuver may be necessary.
The larynx contains the two vocal chords, which are part of the vocal folds. They serve the voice-generation with the human being. When speaking, the vocal folds are almost closed and strained.
By air flowing past, they are set in vibration similar to a guitar. This creates a sound. Its height can be varied by the tension of the vocal folds. In addition, the tone is further modulated in the mouth–nose-throat area, which creates the different vowels. Consonants, on the other hand, are often produced without the involvement of the larynx.For this count for example sibilants like S and Z or a striking of the tongue at the palate like with the D, T and G.
