Glottis Flashcards

Explore the glottis, including its vocal folds, rima glottidis, supporting cartilages, intrinsic muscles, movements, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 28Question

What is the glottis?

The true vocal folds and the opening between them, called the rima glottidis.

In This Section

1. What is the glottis?

The true vocal folds and the opening between them, called the rima glottidis.

2. What is the rima glottidis?

The variable opening between the right and left true vocal folds and the medial surfaces of the arytenoid cartilages.

3. What are the two anatomical subdivisions of the rima glottidis?

The anterior intermembranous part and posterior intercartilaginous part.

4. What forms the boundaries of the intermembranous part of the rima glottidis?

The free medial edges of the right and left true vocal folds.

5. What forms the lateral boundaries of the intercartilaginous part of the rima glottidis?

The medial surfaces of the right and left arytenoid cartilages.

6. Where is the glottis located within the larynx?

At the level of the true vocal folds, between the supraglottic and subglottic regions.

7. Where do the true vocal folds attach anteriorly?

To the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage near the anterior commissure.

8. Where do the true vocal folds attach posteriorly?

To the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages.

9. Which ligament forms the fibrous core of each true vocal fold?

The vocal ligament, which is the thickened superior free edge of the conus elasticus.

10. Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle lies within each true vocal fold?

The vocalis muscle, the medial portion of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

11. What type of epithelium normally covers the free vibrating surface of the true vocal folds?

Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

12. What is the primary function of the glottis during phonation?

To regulate airflow through approximated vocal folds, allowing their vibration to produce sound.

13. What happens to the rima glottidis during quiet inspiration?

It widens as the vocal folds abduct to permit airflow into the lower respiratory tract.

14. Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle is the principal abductor of the vocal folds?

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

15. Which muscle primarily adducts the membranous portions of the vocal folds?

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

16. Which muscles approximate the arytenoid cartilages to close the posterior glottis?

The transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles.

17. Which muscle primarily increases vocal fold tension by tilting the thyroid cartilage forward?

The cricothyroid muscle.

18. Which muscles provide fine adjustments to vocal fold tension and length?

The thyroarytenoid and vocalis muscles.

19. Which joints permit arytenoid movement during opening and closing of the glottis?

The paired cricoarytenoid synovial joints.

20. Which nerve supplies most intrinsic laryngeal muscles controlling the glottis?

The recurrent laryngeal nerve, through its continuation as the inferior laryngeal nerve.

21. Which nerve supplies the cricothyroid muscle?

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

22. Which nerve supplies sensory innervation to the laryngeal mucosa at and below the vocal folds?

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

23. What is the role of glottic closure during swallowing?

It helps protect the lower airway by preventing swallowed material from entering the trachea.

24. How does the glottis contribute to the Valsalva maneuver?

Closure of the glottis permits increased intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressure during muscular straining.

25. What can happen to vocal fold movement after unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury?

The ipsilateral vocal fold may become immobile or weak, causing dysphonia and incomplete glottic closure.

26. Why can bilateral vocal fold paralysis cause severe respiratory obstruction?

Both vocal folds may remain near the midline, producing a dangerously narrow glottic airway.

27. What is the anatomical location of a glottic carcinoma?

The true vocal fold region, including the anterior and posterior commissures.

28. Why do early glottic carcinomas often produce hoarseness?

They interfere with normal vocal fold vibration and glottic closure.