larynx
Sign in to saveThe larynx (: larynges or larynxes), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in respiration, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of the larynx into the pharynx, known as the laryngeal inlet, is about 4–5 centimeters in diameter. The larynx houses the vocal cords, and manipulates pitch and volume, which is essential for phonation. It is situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the esophagus.
AI overview
The larynx, commonly called the voice box, is an organ in your neck that plays three important roles: it helps you breathe, produces sound by controlling your vocal cords, and prevents food from entering your windpipe. Located just below where your pharynx splits into your trachea and esophagus, the larynx controls the pitch and volume of your voice, which is essential for speaking and singing.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Larynx
- Anatomy.Latin
- larynx
- Anatomy.Greek
- λάρυγξ
- Anatomy.Image
- Gray953.png
- Anatomy.Caption
- Sagittal section of the larynx and upper part of the trachea.
- Anatomy.Image2
- Gray954.png
- Anatomy.Caption2
- Coronal section of larynx and upper part of trachea.
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Location
- Cartilages
- Muscles
- Intrinsic
- Extrinsic
- Nerve supply
- Development
- Laryngeal cavity
- Function
- Sound generation
- Other
- Clinical significance
- Disorders
- Treatments
- Other animals
- Non-mammals
- History and etymology
- Additional images
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Sources
The larynx (: larynges or larynxes), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in respiration, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of the larynx into the pharynx, known as the laryngeal inlet, is about 4–5 centimeters in diameter. The larynx houses the vocal cords, and manipulates pitch and volume, which is essential for phonation. It is situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the esophagus.
== Structure == thumb|The basic parts of the human larynx. The triangle-shaped larynx consists largely of cartilages that are attached to surrounding structures by muscles or by fibrous and elastic tissue components. The larynx is lined by a ciliated columnar epithelium except for the vocal folds. The cavity of the larynx extends from its triangle-shaped inlet to the epiglottis, and to the circular outlet at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, where it is continuous with the lumen of the trachea. The mucous membrane lining the larynx forms two pairs of lateral folds that project inward into its cavity. The upper folds are called the vestibular folds. They are also sometimes called the false vocal cords for the rather obvious reason that they play no part in vocalization. The Kargyraa style of Tuvan throat singing makes use of these folds to sing an octave lower, and they are used in Umngqokolo, a type of Xhosa throat singing. The lower pair of folds is known as the vocal cords, which produce sounds needed for speech and other vocalizations. The slit-like space between the left and right vocal cords, called the rima glottidis, is the narrowest part of the larynx. The vocal cords and the rima glottidis are collectively referred to as the glottis. The laryngeal cavity above the vestibular folds is called the vestibule. The very middle portion of the cavity between the vestibular folds and the vocal cords is the ventricle of the larynx, or laryngeal ventricle. The infraglottic cavity is the open space below the glottis.