Vocal Cords Flashcards

Explore the vocal cords, including their layered anatomy, attachments, intrinsic muscles, innervation, vibration, and clinical significance.

Card 1 of 30Question

What are the true vocal cords?

Paired mucosal folds containing vocal ligaments and vocalis muscles that vibrate during phonation.

In This Section

1. What are the true vocal cords?

Paired mucosal folds containing vocal ligaments and vocalis muscles that vibrate during phonation.

2. Where are the true vocal cords located?

Within the larynx, inferior to the vestibular folds and superior to the infraglottic cavity.

3. What are the false vocal cords anatomically called?

The vestibular folds.

4. What is the main functional difference between true and false vocal cords?

True vocal cords produce ordinary voice through vibration, while false vocal cords primarily contribute to airway protection.

5. Where do the true vocal cords attach anteriorly?

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

6. Where do the true vocal cords attach posteriorly?

To the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages.

7. Which ligament forms the fibrous supporting core of each true vocal cord?

The vocal ligament, formed by the thickened superior free edge of the conus elasticus.

8. Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle lies within each true vocal cord?

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

9. What type of epithelium covers the vibrating surface of the true vocal cords?

Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

10. What is Reinke's space?

The superficial layer of the vocal fold lamina propria, important for flexible mucosal vibration.

11. What are the three layers of the vocal fold lamina propria?

The superficial, intermediate, and deep layers.

12. Which layers of the vocal fold lamina propria form most of the vocal ligament?

The intermediate and deep layers.

13. What is the rima glottidis?

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

14. Which muscle is the principal abductor of the vocal cords?

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.

15. Which muscle primarily adducts the membranous vocal cords?

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle.

16. Which muscles close the posterior portion of the glottis?

The transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles.

17. Which muscle primarily elongates and increases the tension of the vocal cords?

The cricothyroid muscle.

18. What is the function of the thyroarytenoid muscle in vocal cord movement?

It primarily shortens and relaxes the vocal folds while helping regulate their stiffness.

19. Which joints permit rotation of the arytenoid cartilages during vocal cord abduction and adduction?

The paired cricoarytenoid synovial joints.

20. Which nerve supplies most intrinsic muscles controlling the vocal cords?

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

21. Which nerve supplies the cricothyroid muscle?

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

22. Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the mucosa of the true vocal cords?

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

23. What happens to the vocal cords during quiet inspiration?

They abduct, widening the rima glottidis to allow airflow.

24. How do the vocal cords produce sound during phonation?

Airflow from the lungs sets the approximated vocal folds into self-sustained vibration.

25. How does increased vocal cord tension generally affect vocal pitch?

It increases the fundamental frequency of vibration, producing a higher pitch.

26. What happens to vocal cord movement after a complete unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve lesion?

The ipsilateral vocal fold becomes paralyzed, potentially causing hoarseness and incomplete glottic closure.

27. Why can bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis cause airway obstruction?

Both vocal folds may remain near the midline, severely narrowing the glottic airway.

28. What are vocal nodules?

Benign, usually bilateral lesions near the junction of the anterior and middle thirds of the membranous vocal folds.

29. What is Reinke's edema?

Accumulation of fluid within the superficial lamina propria of the true vocal folds.

30. Why do early glottic carcinomas frequently cause hoarseness?

Tumor involvement disrupts normal vocal fold vibration and closure.