LARYNX

 Emryology
 Development
 Situation
 Functions
 Anatomy
 Ligaments and membranes of larynx

Embrology :
Develops from TRACHEOBRONCHIAL DIVERTICULUM in ventral wall of
primitive pharynx during 4th week just below hypobranchial eminence.
Groove deepens (caudally to cranially)  septum  separates Tracheobronchial
TUBE from pharynx and oesophagus forming oesophageotracheal septum.
Airway epithelium develops from the ENDODERMAL lining of this tube.
Caudally this tube only form 2 branches leading on to 2 main bronchii and also 2 lung
buds develop
Cranially  Primitive larynx, (bounded by caudal part of Hypobrachial eminence
{forms Epiglottis} and laterally by ventral folds of 6th brachial arches)
Arytenoid swellings develop on each side of tracheobroncheal groove, enlarge to come
close to each other and to hypo brachial eminence (caudal portion).
This converts the Vertical slit like cavity into a T shaped one
Initially laryngeal cavity fully closed as cleft walls adhere, after 3rd month dissolution
of clump of cells
4th and 6th arch nerves  Superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves
Epiglottis originates by fusion of anterior extensions of 4th arches (hypobrachial
eminence) indicating paired origin.
Laryngeal inlet  midline epiglottic swelling, paired arytenoid swellings and lateral
aryepiglottic folds
Vocal cords form at 8th – 10th week (2 months)
The epiglottis is last cartilaginous tissue to develop
Hyoid bone  2nd n 3rd arches
Each primary bronchus divided into 18 to 23 generations
SO THYROID CARTILAGE, EPIGLOTTIS, CRICOTHYROID AND
INFERIOR CONSTRICTOR BY 4th ARCH  Sup laryngeal nerve  
Development :
Hypobrachial eminence  epiglottis
4th arch  Thyroid cartilage
6th arch  all (corniculate (Santorini’s cartilage), cuneiform
(Wrisberg), cricoid, arytenoids & tracheal cartilages)
 Angiogenesis begins in the Mesenchyme which is localised in 2 planes i.e. 
o External Constrictor– (4th arch)  analogous to Inf constrictor &
Cricothyroid.
o Internal Constrictor – (5th and 6th arches)  analogous to intrinsic muscles of
larynx.
 Thyroid, cricoid and most of arytenoid is are Hyaline cartilages whereas tip of arytenoid
and rest all are fibroelastic.
 RLN enters the sixth visceral arch on each side below 6th aortic arch artery, on left side
arch artery retains its position as ductus arteriosus so the nerve is found below the
ligamentum arteriosum after birth.
 Rt side it lies below 4th arch artery which becomes the subclavian artery.

Situation & Anatomy :

 2nd to 4th cervical vertebrae in children and 3rd to 6th cervical vertebrae in adults from
laryngeal inlet to inferior border of cricoid cartilage
 Higher in women
 9 cartilages  Cuneiform, corniculate and arytenoids (ACC Paired) and Thyroid,
cricoid and epiglottis (CET unpaired)
 Larynx starts high up under the tongue in early life and with age assumes an
increasingly lower position in neck.
 AP diameter : men 36mm & women : 26mm after puberty
 Supraglottis  Superiorly – Epiglottis & aryepiglottic folds that sweep down to the
arytenoids ;; Inferiorly – false vocal cords (ventricular bands)
 Glottis  below false cords i.e. includes true vocal cords and anterior and posterior
commissure.
 Subglottis starts at 5 to 10 mm below vocal cords (some say VC only). Subglottis
becomes trachea at lower border of Cricoid only.

Functions of Larynx :
Protection of lower airway
Provision of controlled airway
Phonation
Generation of High intrathorasic pressure for coughing and lifting