The larynx is a tubular organ located between the pharynx and the trachea.
Larynx is a term that refers to the tubular organ that is located between the pharynx and the trachea . The larynx, which appears in most vertebrates, is made up of nine cartilages (joined by ligaments and small muscles ) and constitutes a key piece in the phonation apparatus of mammals.
Before moving forward, it is important to determine the etymological origin of the term. If we do, we discover that it comes from Greek, specifically from the word larygas , which can be translated as "throat" .
In humans , the larynx is located in the anterior part of the neck and borders the upper part of the trachea. Constituted as an organ of phonation, the larynx responds to the needs of the voice and phonation by containing the upper and lower vocal cords .
Cartilages of the larynx
Specifically, we would have to establish that the larynx is made up of six types of cartilage: arytenoid, cueniform, epiglottis, cricoid, corniculate and thyroid.
The thyroid cartilage is the largest of those that make up the larynx. In the case of men , this cartilage creates a noticeable prominence on the anterior surface of the neck that is known as the laryngeal prominence or Adam's apple . It is worth mentioning, on the other hand, that the larynx, pharynx and trachea are covered by mucosal epithelium .
Other components
In the same way, extrinsic ligaments , such as the thyrohyoid membrane, and intrinsic ligaments, which have the function of joining the ligaments together, are also part of the structure of the larynx. Among this last group, the elastic cone or what is the elastic membrane stands out, among others.
Likewise, the set of muscles it has are essential in the larynx. Specifically, they are divided into two large groups:
- Intrinsic , which are responsible for the movement of the vocal cords.
- Extrinsic , which have a lot to do with what would be the fixation of the larynx as well as its movement. Examples are the thyrohyoid or the median constrictor.
Various problems can affect the larynx.
Voice generation in the larynx
How is voice generated? With the passage of air , the vocal cords vibrate in the larynx and produce various sounds, which vary according to the tension to which they are subjected by the action of the muscles. If the tension is low, the sound produced will be serious; On the other hand, if the tension is strong, the sound will be sharp.
The sounds that come out of the larynx can be transformed into words thanks to the intervention of the muscles of the mouth and tongue. As the larynx and vocal cords of men are larger compared to women , the tone of voice between both sexes is different.
Most frequent diseases
The invasion of a virus or bacteria , swelling of the vocal folds and cancer are some of the diseases that can affect the larynx.
Of the aforementioned laryngeal cancer, we would have to highlight that it is identified by the following symptoms: change in voice, cough that does not go away, ear pain, the appearance of a lump in the throat or difficulty swallowing, among others. In these circumstances, what you have to do is go to a medical professional to resort to one or more diagnostic processes. Specifically, to perform tests such as a CT scan, a neck examination, an endoscopy...