Cricoid Cartilage Flashcards

Examine the cricoid cartilage's ring-shaped structure, anatomical landmarks, muscle attachments, articulations, and clinical significance.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the cricoid cartilage?

An unpaired, ring-shaped hyaline cartilage forming the inferior part of the laryngeal skeleton.

In This Section

1. What is the cricoid cartilage?

An unpaired, ring-shaped hyaline cartilage forming the inferior part of the laryngeal skeleton.

2. What distinguishes the cricoid cartilage from other laryngeal cartilages?

It is the only laryngeal cartilage forming a complete ring around the airway.

3. At approximately which vertebral level is the cricoid cartilage located in adults?

The sixth cervical vertebra (C6).

4. Which cartilage lies immediately superior to the cricoid cartilage?

The thyroid cartilage.

5. Which airway structure continues inferiorly from the cricoid cartilage?

The trachea, beginning below the cricoid cartilage.

6. What are the two main anatomical parts of the cricoid cartilage?

The anterior arch and posterior lamina.

7. How does the shape of the cricoid cartilage resemble a signet ring?

It has a narrow anterior arch and a broad, tall posterior lamina.

8. What is the cricoid arch?

The narrow anterior portion of the cricoid cartilage, palpable in the midline of the neck.

9. What is the cricoid lamina?

The broad posterior plate of the cricoid cartilage that supports the arytenoid cartilages.

10. Which cartilages articulate with the superior border of the cricoid lamina?

The right and left arytenoid cartilages.

11. What type of joints are the cricoarytenoid joints?

Paired synovial joints permitting rotation and gliding of the arytenoid cartilages.

12. Which parts of the thyroid cartilage articulate with the cricoid cartilage?

The inferior horns of the thyroid cartilage.

13. What movements occur at the cricothyroid joints?

Primarily tilting movements between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that alter vocal fold tension.

14. Which membrane connects the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage anteriorly?

The median cricothyroid ligament, the anterior thickening of the cricothyroid membrane.

15. Which ligament connects the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage to the first tracheal ring?

The cricotracheal ligament.

16. Which fibroelastic membrane extends superiorly from the cricoid cartilage toward the vocal ligaments?

The conus elasticus, also called the cricovocal membrane.

17. Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle originates from the posterior surface of the cricoid lamina?

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

18. What is the action of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle?

Abduction of the vocal folds, widening the rima glottidis during inspiration.

19. Which muscle originates from the superior border of the lateral cricoid arch?

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

20. What is the function of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?

Adduction of the membranous vocal folds by rotating the arytenoid cartilages.

21. Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle attaches to the anterolateral surface of the cricoid arch?

The cricothyroid muscle.

22. How does contraction of the cricothyroid muscle affect the vocal folds?

It increases vocal fold length and tension, contributing to higher vocal pitch.

23. Which muscle attaches to the posterior midline ridge of the cricoid lamina?

The longitudinal muscle fibers of the esophagus originate partly from this region.

24. Which structure lies immediately posterior to the cricoid cartilage?

The laryngopharynx, continuing inferiorly into the cervical esophagus.

25. Which pharyngeal constrictor muscle attaches to the lateral cricoid cartilage?

The cricopharyngeus portion of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor.

26. Which upper digestive tract sphincter is formed primarily by the cricopharyngeus muscle?

The upper esophageal sphincter.

27. What is the clinical importance of the cricothyroid membrane?

It provides an accessible route into the airway during emergency cricothyrotomy.

28. What is the relationship of the cricoid cartilage to the recurrent laryngeal nerves?

The nerves enter the larynx near the cricothyroid joints, deep to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor.

29. Why is the cricoid cartilage an important landmark during examination of the anterior neck?

It is a palpable midline landmark that identifies the approximate C6 level and the lower boundary of the larynx.

30. What functional problem can result from cricoarytenoid joint ankylosis?

Restricted vocal fold movement, potentially causing dysphonia, impaired glottic opening, or airway obstruction.