HN 28. The larynx: cartilages, cavity, muscles and nerves
Anatomy, MBBS Second Year. This chapter is split into 4 topics and has
150 practice questions. The topics covered are listed below, followed by
10 free sample questions from the chapter.
Topics in this chapter
Cartilages of the larynx37 questions
Membranes, ligaments, inlet and cavity of the larynx37 questions
Muscles of the larynx36 questions
Blood supply, nerve supply and lymph drainage of the larynx40 questions
Sample questions: HN 28. The larynx: cartilages, cavity, muscles and nerves
10 sample questions with the correct answer and an explanation. Try to answer each one before reading the explanation.
Q1. Which statement about the cartilages of the larynx is correct?
A. All six cartilages are paired
B. The cricoid is the largest cartilage
C. The arytenoid cartilage is single
D. There are 3 single (thyroid — the largest, cricoid — ring-shaped, epiglottis) and 3 paired (arytenoid — pyramidal, corniculate, cuneiform) cartilages; the thyroid has a notch and laryngeal prominence, and the cricoid forms the cricothyroid and cricoarytenoid joints(correct answer)
Answer: D.Laryngeal cartilages: 3 single (thyroid — largest, with 2 laminae, horns, oblique line, thyroid notch and laryngeal prominence; cricoid — ring-shaped, forming the cricothyroid and cricoarytenoid joints; epiglottis) and 3 paired (arytenoid — pyramidal, with muscular and vocal processes; corniculate; cuneiform).
Q2. Which statement about the membranes of the larynx is correct?
A. The quadrangular membrane forms the vocal cord
B. The thyrohyoid membrane contains the chorda tympani
C. There are 2 external and 3 internal membranes
D. There are 3 external membranes (thyrohyoid — pierced by the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery — median cricothyroid and cricotracheal) and 2 internal membranes (quadrangular, forming the aryepiglottic and vestibular folds; and cricothyroid, whose upper border forms the vocal cord)(correct answer)
Answer: D.External membranes: thyrohyoid (pierced by the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery), median cricothyroid, cricotracheal. Internal membranes: quadrangular (upper border → aryepiglottic fold; lower border → vestibular fold) and cricothyroid ligament (upper border → vocal cord).
Q3. Which statement about the laryngeal cavity is correct?
A. The ventricle lies above the vestibular fold
B. It has one fold on each side
C. The infraglottic space lies above the vocal fold
D. It has two folds on each side (vestibular above, vocal below), two midline spaces (rima vestibuli and rima glottidis) and three compartments on each side (vestibule above the vestibular fold, ventricle between the folds, infraglottic space below the vocal fold)(correct answer)
Answer: D.Laryngeal cavity: 2 folds on each side (vestibular above, vocal below); 2 midline spaces (rima vestibuli between the vestibular folds — wider and above; rima glottidis between the vocal folds); 3 compartments on each side (vestibule/supraglottic space above the vestibular fold, ventricle between the vestibular and vocal folds, infraglottic space below the vocal fold).
Q4. Which of the following muscles does NOT act on the vocal cord itself?
A. The thyroepiglottic muscle(correct answer)
B. The cricothyroid
C. The vocalis
D. The posterior cricoarytenoid
Answer: A.The thyroepiglottic muscle opens the laryngeal inlet; the muscles acting on the vocal cord are the posterior cricoarytenoid (abduct), lateral cricoarytenoid and transverse arytenoid (adduct), cricothyroid (tense) and vocalis/thyroarytenoid (relax).
Q5. Which statement summarises the laryngeal muscles?
A. The cricothyroid abducts the cord
B. The aryepiglottic muscle opens the inlet
C. 3 extrinsic elevators (suprahyoid) and 3 depressors (infrahyoid); intrinsic muscles: abductor — posterior cricoarytenoid; adductors — lateral cricoarytenoid and transverse arytenoid; tensor — cricothyroid; relaxers — vocalis and thyroarytenoid; inlet closers — aryepiglottic; openers — thyroepiglottic(correct answer)
Q6. Which statement about the nerve supply of the larynx is correct?
A. All motor supply is by the internal laryngeal nerve
B. Sensation above the cord is carried by the recurrent laryngeal nerve
C. All the nerves are branches of the vagus — motor: cricothyroid by the external laryngeal nerve and all other muscles by the recurrent laryngeal nerve; sensory: above the vocal cord by the internal laryngeal nerve and below by the recurrent laryngeal nerve(correct answer)
D. The larynx is supplied by the facial nerve
Answer: C.Laryngeal nerve supply (all vagal): motor — cricothyroid by the external laryngeal nerve, all other intrinsic muscles by the recurrent laryngeal nerve; sensory — above the vocal cord by the internal laryngeal nerve (superior laryngeal), below by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Q7. Which statement summarises the blood supply, nerve supply and lymph drainage of the larynx?
A. Arteries — both from the facial artery
B. Nerves — all from the glossopharyngeal nerve
C. Arteries — superior laryngeal from the superior thyroid and inferior laryngeal from the inferior thyroid; nerves — vagus (motor: external laryngeal to the cricothyroid, recurrent laryngeal to the rest; sensory: internal laryngeal above and recurrent laryngeal below the vocal cord); lymph — upper part to upper deep cervical nodes and lower part to lower deep cervical nodes(correct answer)
D. Lymph — both parts to the submandibular nodes
Answer: C.Larynx: arteries — superior laryngeal (superior thyroid artery) and inferior laryngeal (inferior thyroid artery); nerves — vagus (motor: external laryngeal → cricothyroid, recurrent laryngeal → all other muscles; sensory: internal laryngeal above the vocal cord, recurrent laryngeal below); lymph — upper part → upper deep cervical nodes, lower part → lower deep cervical nodes.
Q8. Which statement about laryngeal innervation and function is correct?
A. The vagus supplies the larynx: the external laryngeal nerve to the cricothyroid, the internal laryngeal nerve for sensation above the cord, and the recurrent laryngeal nerve for the remaining muscles and sensation below the cord; abduction opens the rima glottidis for respiration and adduction closes it for phonation(correct answer)
B. The larynx is supplied by the facial nerve
C. Sensation of the whole larynx is carried by the internal laryngeal nerve
D. Abduction closes the airway
Answer: A.Laryngeal innervation (vagus): external laryngeal nerve → cricothyroid; internal laryngeal nerve → sensation above the cord; recurrent laryngeal nerve → remaining muscles and sensation below the cord. Function: abduction opens the rima glottidis (respiration) and adduction closes it (phonation).
Q9. Which statement about the clinical effects of laryngeal nerve injury is correct?
A. A unilateral partial recurrent lesion causes the cord to abduct
B. Superior laryngeal nerve lesion → cricothyroid paralysis with sensory loss above the cord and a shortened cord; unilateral complete recurrent lesion → cadaveric position; unilateral partial recurrent lesion → midline adducted cord (stridor if bilateral)(correct answer)
C. Recurrent lesions never affect the airway
D. Superior laryngeal nerve lesion causes the cadaveric position
Answer: B.Superior laryngeal nerve lesion — cricothyroid paralysis + sensory loss above the vocal cord; the cord shortens from loss of tension. Unilateral complete recurrent laryngeal nerve cut — paralysis of all muscles except the cricothyroid → cadaveric position. Unilateral partial (crush) lesion — abductor fibres injured → midline adducted cord (severe stridor if bilateral).
Q10. Which statement summarises the larynx?
A. It has 3 single (thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis) and 3 paired (arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform) cartilages, 3 external and 2 internal membranes, an inlet bounded by the epiglottis/arytenoids/aryepiglottic folds, a cavity with vestibular and vocal folds, extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, vagal nerve supply and upper/lower deep cervical lymph drainage(correct answer)
B. Its nerve supply is from the facial nerve
C. It has no intrinsic muscles
D. It has 6 paired cartilages only
Answer: A.The larynx: 3 single cartilages (thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis) and 3 paired (arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform); 3 external and 2 internal membranes; inlet bounded by epiglottis, arytenoids/interarytenoid fold and aryepiglottic folds; cavity with vestibular and vocal folds, rima vestibuli and rima glottidis; extrinsic (suprahyoid/infrahyoid) and intrinsic muscles; vagal nerve supply and lymph drainage to the upper and lower deep cervical nodes.