Larynx: irregular tube that connects the pharynx to the trachea

Within lamina propria

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Laryngeal cartilage

Larger cartilages Smaller cartilages

(thyroid, cricoid, and most of arytenoids) (epiglottis, cuneiform, corniculate, tips of arytenoids)
 hyaline  elastic

Role:
 maintenance of an open airway
 valve to prevent swallowed food or fluid from entering the trachea
 participate in producing sounds for phonation

Epiglottis: projects from the rim of the larynx, extends into the pharynx

Lingual surface Laryngeal surface

Lingual surface & apical portion of
the laryngeal surface
 stratified squamous
epithelium
Toward the base of the epiglottis on the laryngeal surface
 epithelium undergoes a transition into
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
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Beneath the epithelium: Mixed mucous and serous glands

Below epiglottis
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Mucosa: forms 2 pair of folds that extend into lumen of larynx

Upper pair constitutes - false vocal cords
(vestibular folds)
 Covered with typical respiratory
epithelium beneath which lie numerous
serous glands within the lamina propria
Lower pair of folds constitutes - true vocal cords
Large bundles of parallel elastic fibers that
compose the vocal ligament lie within the vocal
folds, which are covered with a
stratified squamous epithelium.

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Parallel to the ligaments  bundles of skeletal muscle, the vocalis muscles
which regulate the tension of the fold and its ligaments
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As air is forced between the folds, these muscles provide the means for sounds of different
frequencies to be produced

Shafiqah
Shafiqah