Intermediate Vocal Cords Quiz

Q1. The vocal ligament is the thickened superior free edge of which fibroelastic structure?

• Conus elasticus
• Quadrangular membrane
• Pretracheal fascia
• Thyrohyoid membrane

Q2. Which muscle lies immediately lateral to the vocal ligament and forms part of the true vocal fold?

• Vocalis
• Posterior cricoarytenoid
• Cricothyroid
• Aryepiglottic muscle

Q3. Which muscle primarily lengthens and tenses the vocal folds?

• Transverse arytenoid
• Posterior cricoarytenoid
• Thyroarytenoid
• Cricothyroid

Q4. Which nerve supplies the cricothyroid muscle?

• External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve
• Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• Hypoglossal nerve

Q5. Which muscle can shorten and relax the vocal folds?

• Sternothyroid
• Thyroarytenoid
• Cricothyroid
• Posterior cricoarytenoid

Q6. Which muscle adducts the vocal folds by medially rotating the arytenoid cartilages?

• Thyrohyoid
• Cricothyroid
• Lateral cricoarytenoid
• Posterior cricoarytenoid

Q7. Which muscles are especially important for closing the posterior part of the rima glottidis?

• Transverse and oblique arytenoids
• Cricothyroids
• Posterior cricoarytenoids
• Sternohyoids

Q8. What epithelium normally covers most of the free vibrating surface of the true vocal folds?

• Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium throughout
• Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
• Simple cuboidal epithelium
• Transitional epithelium

Q9. Why are seromucous glands sparse or absent along the free edge of the true vocal folds?

• The free edge is specialized for vibration rather than gland-rich respiratory mucosa
• The vocal folds have no epithelial covering
• The vocal folds contain only cartilage
• The free edge is lined by intestinal mucosa

Q10. Which anatomical space lies immediately lateral and superior to the true vocal fold between it and the vestibular fold?

• Laryngeal ventricle
• Pre-epiglottic space
• Piriform recess
• Vallecula