Arytenoid cartilage

Arytenoid cartilage

The cartilages of the larynx seen from behind
Details
Precursor 4th and 6th pharyngeal arch
Identifiers
Latin Cartilagines arytaenoideae
MeSH A02.165.507.083
Dorlands
/Elsevier
c_12/12217087
TA A06.2.04.001
FMA 55109

Anatomical terminology

The arytenoid[1] (/ærˈtnɔɪd/) cartilages are a pair of small three-sided pyramids which form part of the larynx, to which the vocal folds (vocal cords) are attached. These allow and aid in the vocal cords' movement.

Each is pyramidal or ladle-shaped in form (arytenoid comes from Greek arytaina meaning ladle + eidos, meaning form),[2] and has three surfaces, a base, and an apex.

Structure

Surfaces

The posterior surface is a triangular, smooth, concave, and gives attachment to the arytenoid muscle and transversus.

The antero-lateral surface is somewhat convex and rough. On it, near the apex of the cartilage, is a rounded elevation (colliculus) from which a ridge (crista arcuata) curves at first backward and then downward and forward to the vocal process. The lower part of this crest intervenes between two depressions or foveæ, an upper, triangular, and a lower oblong in shape; the latter gives attachment to the vocalis muscle.

The medial surface is narrow, smooth, and flattened, covered by mucous membrane, and forms the lateral boundary of the intercartilaginous part of the rima glottidis.

Base and apex

The base of each cartilage is broad, and on it is a concave smooth surface, for articulation with the cricoid cartilage.

The apex of each cartilage is pointed, curved backward and medialward, and surmounted by a small conical, cartilaginous nodule, the corniculate cartilage.

Function

They allow the vocal folds to be tensed, relaxed, or approximated.

The arytenoids articulate with the supero-lateral parts of the cricoid cartilage lamina, forming the cricoarytenoid joints at which they can come together, move apart, tilt anteriorly or posteriorly, and rotate.

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. From Ancient Greek: ἀρύταινα, arytaina, "ladle."
  2. Farlex dictionary: arytenoid cartilage Citing: Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition.
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