Vocal Cord And Voice Box Anatomy

Vocal Cord And Voice Box Anatomy

Question 1. Write a short note on vocal cords.
Answer.

They are a pair of folds extending anteroposteriorly within the laryngeal cavity. The gap between the right and left vocal folds is called rima glottidis. Each vocal cord is made up of vocal ligament (medially) and vocalis muscle (laterally).

The vocal ligament extends from the tip of vocal process of arytenoid cartilage posteriorly to the inner aspect of thyroid cartilage anteriorly. The vocalis muscle (the detached medial part of thyroarytenoid muscle) also extends from inner aspect of thyroid cartilage (anteriorly) to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage (posteriorly). The posterior part of vocal folds is formed by arytenoid cartilages. Each vocal cord is covered by mucous membrane.

Question 2. Write a note on changes in size and shape of rima glottidis.
Answer.

Functionally rima glottidis consists of two parts:

• Intramembranous part (anteriorly three-fifth) between vocal cords
• Intracartilaginous part (posteriorly one-fifth) between arytenoid cartilage

The changes in size and shape of rima glottidis takes place during respiration and speech. These are:

• During quiet respiration, vocal cords lie only, at some distance.
• During full respiration, vocal cords move apart.
• During whispering, only intracartilaginous part widens.
• During high-pitched voice, both intramembranous and intracartilaginous parts adduct and rima glottidis is reduced to a linear chink.