Intermediate Cricoid Cartilage Quiz

Q1. At approximately which vertebral level is the cricoid cartilage located in an adult?

• C4
• T1
• C2
• C6

Q2. What important transition in the airway occurs at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage?

• The esophagus becomes the stomach
• The trachea becomes the main bronchi
• The larynx becomes continuous with the trachea
• The pharynx becomes the oral cavity

Q3. What digestive tract transition occurs near the level of the lower border of the cricoid cartilage?

• The oral cavity becomes the oropharynx
• The esophagus enters the stomach
• The pharynx continues as the esophagus
• The nasopharynx becomes the nasal cavity

Q4. Which muscle arises from the posterolateral surface of the cricoid lamina and abducts the vocal folds?

• Thyroarytenoid
• Cricothyroid
• Lateral cricoarytenoid
• Posterior cricoarytenoid

Q5. Which muscle arises from the upper border of the cricoid arch and helps adduct the vocal folds?

• Lateral cricoarytenoid
• Vocalis
• Posterior cricoarytenoid
• Aryepiglottic

Q6. Which muscle attaches to the anterolateral cricoid and acts to tense the vocal folds?

• Posterior cricoarytenoid
• Cricothyroid
• Transverse arytenoid
• Thyrohyoid

Q7. What movements occur at the cricothyroid joints?

• Rotation and gliding that alter vocal fold tension
• No movement because the joint is fibrous
• Only arytenoid abduction
• Opening and closing of the epiglottis

Q8. What movements occur at the cricoarytenoid joints?

• Rotation of the thyroid around the hyoid
• Movement of the epiglottis through the thyroid notch
• Rotation and gliding of the arytenoid cartilages
• Flexion of the hyoid bone

Q9. Which ligament connects the cricoid cartilage to the first tracheal ring?

• Median thyrohyoid ligament
• Cricotracheal ligament
• Hyoepiglottic ligament
• Thyroepiglottic ligament

Q10. Why is the cricoid cartilage an important palpable neck landmark?

• It lies directly over the hyoid body
• It identifies the mandibular angle
• It marks the lower laryngeal region near important airway and pharyngeal transitions
• It marks the bifurcation of the trachea