17. Regarding the structure of the larynx, what functional advantage is there to
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17. Regarding the structure of the larynx, what functional advantage is there to having several pieces of cartilage connected by soft tissue rather than just a large single ring of cartilage? 18. A person who is severely allergic to nuts eats a candy bar without knowing that it contains finely massive inflammation in her pharynx blocks the passage of air to her trachea and lungs. An emergenc performed. Explain why knowledge of the surface anatomy of the neck will help i t knowing that it contains finely chopped peanuts. Soon you to successfully perform this procedure after must be te the smooth muscle layer around bronchioles can influence the volume of air reaching a 19. Explain how autonomic nerves that innervat particular region of the lung. 20. Is the airway in the photo to the right a bronchus, bronchiole specific structural features to explain or alveolus? Discuss your answerExplanation / Answer
17) The larynx is the voice box in the human body. It surrounds and protects the sound box and the tracheal entrance, thereby preventing food particles or fluid from entering the lungs. Air passes through the trachea on its way to the lungs. The larynx is epithelial tissue covered tube connected to nine cartilages. Three of the paired cartilages (arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform) are bilaterally symmetrical. The rest of unpaired three cartilages (cricoid, thyroid, and epiglottis) are strategically placed for optimal function. They are connected to the axial skeleton. All the cartilages have specific functions.
During food intake, the epiglottis pulls downwards in front of the opening to the larynx, preventing any food from going to the lungs. It seals the windpipe during eating. Downwards movement of the epiglottis allows the food to enter the esophagus.
The thyroid cartilage, known as Adam’s apple in males, is a strong flexible tissue that houses the vocal chords located behind them. It helps in the production of the human voice by protecting the vocal folds. The muscles interact with the thyroid cartilage to induce vibration of the vocal folds. The pitch of the voice alters when the thyroid cartilage changes its angle with respect to the cricoids cartilage.
The cricoids cartilage joins the various muscles (cricothyroid muscle, posterior cricoarytenoid muscle and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles), ligaments, and cartilages involved in opening and closing of the airways. It is involved in altering pitch of the voice in coordination with the thyroid cartilage. This cartilage is composed of firm connective tissue (hyaline cartilage) that is fully or partially flexible.
At the synovial cricoarytenoid joint, the arytenoid cartilage attaches to the cricoid ring by anterior and posterior ligaments. The arytenoid cartilages slide and rotate on an axis at the cricoarytenoid joints, allowing movements like adduction, abduction, anterior-posterior sliding, and medial-lateral sliding. Further, the arytenoids cartilage increases and stiffens the aryepiglottic fold to prevent aspiration during swallowing. They greatly influence the position and tension of the vocal chords. The movements in this cartilage affects the vocal folds, either making them lose or taut, bring them closer or spread them apart.
The cornulate cartilages are pieces of hyaline cartilage that joins the summits of the arytenoids cartilage, prolonging them posteriorly and medially. The cuneiform cartilages are small pieces of elastic cartilages that support the vocal folds. They also help the lateral aspects of the epiglottis and provide solid support to the folds, which embed them.
The different cartilages of the larynx perform different function in the larynx. They are composed of different types of connective tissue suitable for the functions that they perform. These cartilages interact with each other for voice modulation, prevention of aspiration, or pushing the food down to the esophagus. Not all the separate functions may be possible with a large ring of single connective tissue in the larynx.
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