Paired Cartilages

The larynx contains various paired cartilages. These are the arytenoid cartilage, cuneiform cartilage, and corniculate cartilage.

image source: TeachMeAnatomy

ARYTENOID CARTILAGE

The arytenoid cartilage is shaped like a pyramid and is on the upper border of the cricoid cartilage. It attaches to the corniculate cartilages at their superior apexes. These are located between the lateral laminae of the thyroid cartilage and superiorly to the posterior portion of the cricoid cartilage. This is a type of hyaline cartilage (meaning that it contains a matrix of mainly collagen fibers). They help in allowing the tension, relaxation, and approximation of the vocal folds to occur.

Superiorly, it contains the apex. Anteriorly, it contains the vocal process, and laterally, it contains the muscular process.

Landmarks of the Arytenoid Cartilage

The arytenoid has the following landmarks (which are also shown in the image above):

Apex - The apex is generally classified as a pointed structure. This is also curved medially and posteriorly. Moreover, using a ball and socket joint, the apex articulates with the cricoid lamina (Saran, 2021).
Base - This is the cartilage's broad inner surface. This is slightly wider than the apex. It has a smooth concave surface that serves as the point of articulation with the cricoid cartilage's convex arytenoid facet.
- - The base contains processes. On its anterior angle lies the vocal process and on the lateral angle lies the muscular process.

Processes of the Arytenoid Cartilage

As seen in the picture, the arytenoid cartilage has processes: the vocal and muscular processes.

The vocal process projects anteriorly toward the thyroid notch. This is the site of attachment of the vocalis muscle (Saran, 2021).

The muscular process projects more laterally. This is the point of attachment of various muscles of abduction and adduction. It provides insertion to the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles posteriorly and to the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles anteriorly (Saran, 2021).

CORNICULATE CARTILAGE

While the arytenoid cartilage is a pyramid-shaped hyaline cartilage, the corniculate cartilage is elastic and cone-shaped in nature. To add, the corniculate cartilages or the WRISBERG CARTILAGES are also much smaller than the arytenoid cartilage. It serves to prolong the arytenoids since they are basically located superiorly, posteriorly, and medially to them. Furthermore, the corniculate cartilage is enclosed in the mucosa's aryepiglottic folds.

The cuneiform and corniculate cartilages

The corniculate and arytenoid cartilages

CUNEIFORM CARTILAGES

The cuneiform cartilages or the CARTILAGES OF SANTORINI are elastic club-shaped bodies located superiorly and anteriorly to the corniculate cartilages. These are small cartilages embedded in the aryepiglottic folds of mucosa. The cuneiform cartilage functions to provide rigidity to the folds and support for membranous laryngeal covering. The cuneiform cartilage is also responsible for the "shiny white opaque transparent bulge" in the surface membrane of the aryepiglottic folds.

Larynx - Cartilages - 3D Anatomy Tutorial by AnatomyZone

Learn more about the cartilages of the larynx here!

This is a simple anatomy of the larynx.

REFERENCES:

Barnes, S. (2019). Laryngeal Ligaments and Folds - Vocal - Vestibular - TeachMeAnatomy. TeachMeAnatomy. https://teachmeanatomy.info/neck/viscera/larynx/ligaments-folds/

Fuller, D. R., Pimentel, J. T., & Peregoy, B. M. (2012). Applied anatomy & physiology for speech-language pathology & audiology. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health.

Saran, M., Georgakopoulos, B., & Bordoni, B. (2021). Anatomy, Head and Neck, Larynx Vocal Cords. PubMed. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535342/

Seikel, J. A., Drumright, D. G., & Seikel, P. (2013). Essentials of anatomy & physiology for communication disorders. Delmar Cengage Learning.

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