Arytenoid Cartilages Flashcards

Study the arytenoid cartilages, including their surfaces, processes, muscular attachments, cricoarytenoid joints, and role in vocal fold movement.

Card 1 of 25Question

What are the arytenoid cartilages?

A pair of pyramidal laryngeal cartilages that control the position and movement of the true vocal folds.

In This Section

1. What are the arytenoid cartilages?

A pair of pyramidal laryngeal cartilages that control the position and movement of the true vocal folds.

2. Where are the arytenoid cartilages located?

On the superior border of the posterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage.

3. What type of cartilage forms most of each arytenoid cartilage?

Hyaline cartilage, with elastic cartilage present in portions such as the apex and vocal process.

4. What is the general shape of an arytenoid cartilage?

A three-sided pyramid with a base, apex, and three surfaces.

5. What are the three surfaces of an arytenoid cartilage?

The medial, anterolateral, and posterior surfaces.

6. Which cartilage articulates with the base of each arytenoid cartilage?

The cricoid cartilage, forming the cricoarytenoid joint.

7. What type of joint is the cricoarytenoid joint?

A synovial joint permitting rotational and gliding movements of the arytenoid cartilage.

8. What are the two projections extending from the base of an arytenoid cartilage?

The vocal process and muscular process.

9. In which direction does the vocal process project?

Anteriorly, toward the thyroid cartilage.

10. What structure attaches to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage?

The posterior end of the vocal ligament.

11. In which direction does the muscular process project?

Laterally from the base of the arytenoid cartilage.

12. Which muscles attach to the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage?

The posterior cricoarytenoid and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles.

13. Which small cartilage sits on the apex of each arytenoid cartilage?

The corniculate cartilage.

14. Which laryngeal fold contains the apex of the arytenoid cartilage and the corniculate cartilage?

The aryepiglottic fold.

15. What forms the posterior attachment of the vestibular ligament?

The anterolateral surface of the arytenoid cartilage, superior to the vocal process.

16. Which muscle attaches to the posterior surfaces of both arytenoid cartilages?

The transverse arytenoid muscle.

17. What is the action of the transverse arytenoid muscle?

It approximates the arytenoid cartilages, narrowing the posterior part of the rima glottidis.

18. Which muscle extends from the muscular process of one arytenoid toward the apex of the opposite arytenoid?

The oblique arytenoid muscle.

19. Which muscle rotates the arytenoid cartilages to abduct the vocal folds?

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

20. Which muscle rotates the arytenoid cartilages to adduct the membranous vocal folds?

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

21. How do arytenoid movements affect the rima glottidis?

They alter its width and shape by changing the position of the vocal folds.

22. What is the position of the arytenoid cartilages during quiet inspiration?

They rotate to position the vocal processes laterally, allowing the glottis to remain open.

23. How do the arytenoid cartilages contribute to phonation?

They bring the vocal folds together and adjust their position for vibration during sound production.

24. Which nerve supplies the intrinsic laryngeal muscles responsible for arytenoid movement?

The inferior laryngeal nerve, the terminal continuation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

25. What functional impairment can result from cricoarytenoid joint fixation?

Restricted vocal fold mobility, potentially causing dysphonia or airway narrowing.