Diseases of Larynx I & II

Vocabulary flashcards defining anatomical terms, physiological concepts, pediatric features, and common pathological conditions of the larynx based on the lecture notes.

Dysphonia

A descriptive medical term meaning disorder of voice.

Hoarseness

A subjective term that usually refers to a weak or altered voice.

Thyroid cartilage

A shield-like hyaline cartilage framework of the larynx.

Cricoid cartilage

A signet ring-shaped hyaline cartilage that serves as the only complete skeletal ring for the airway.

Arytenoid cartilage

Pyramidal-shaped paired cartilages containing an apex, vocal process, and muscular process.

Epiglottic cartilage

A leaf-like elastic cartilage connected by the thyroepiglottic and hyoepiglottic ligaments.

Triangular membrane (conus elasticus)

A laryngeal membrane whose medial and lateral free borders are thickened to form the vocal ligament.

Quadrangular membrane

A laryngeal membrane with thickened upper and lower borders forming the aryepiglottic fold and vestibular fold, respectively.

Reink's space

The superficial layer of the lamina propria within the vocal cord structure.

Vocal ligament

The anatomical structure formed by the combination of the intermediate and deep layers of the lamina propria.

Posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA)

The intrinsic laryngeal muscle responsible for abduction of the vocal folds.

Cricothyroid muscle

An intrinsic laryngeal muscle responsible for lengthening (tension) of the vocal folds, innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Nerve supplying sensory function and motor innervation to all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid; loops around the subclavian artery on the right side and arises on the arch of the aorta deep to ligamentum arteriosum on the left side.

Pediatric airway anatomy

Airway characteristics in infants where neonates are obligate nasal breathers until $2\,\text{months}$, the epiglottis at birth is omega ($\Omega$) shaped, and infants have a high larynx at $C1\text{--}C4$.

Voiced sound

The basic sound ('buzzy sound') produced by vocal fold vibration during phonation.

Resonance

The process by which voiced sound is amplified and modified by the vocal tract resonators (throat, mouth cavity, and nasal passages).

Articulation

The process by which vocal tract articulators (tongue, soft palate, and lips) modify the voiced sound into speech.

Laryngomalacia

The most common cause of stridor in neonates and infants, characterized by inward collapse of short aryepiglottic folds and epiglottis into the laryngeal inlet during inspiration, which improves in the prone position.

Subglottic stenosis

Airway obstruction resulting from incomplete recanalization or a small cricoid ring, presenting with biphasic stridor and failure to thrive.

Laryngeal web

Congenital anomaly caused by incomplete decanalization, presenting at birth with a weak cry and variable degrees of respiratory obstruction.

Subglottic haemangioma

Vascular lesion located most commonly in the subglottic space, associated with cutaneous involvement in $50\%$ of cases, and presenting with biphasic stridor.

Vocal nodules (singer's nodules)

Lesions secondary to vocal abuse occurring at the junction of the anterior $\frac{1}{3}$ and middle $\frac{1}{3}$ of the vocal folds.

Vocal fold polyp

A unilateral mucoid or hemorrhagic lesion occurring at the free edge of the middle and anterior $\frac{1}{3}$ of the vocal fold.

Reinke's edema

Edema of the superficial layer of the lamina propria managed by voice rest, stopping smoking, anti-reflux therapy, or surgical excision.

Laryngocele

An air-filled dilation of the appendix of the laryngeal ventricle that communicates with the laryngeal lumen, categorized as external, internal, or combined.

Acute epiglottitis

Laryngeal infection caused by Haemophilis influnzae B in children aged $2\text{--}6\,\text{years}$, presenting with fever, dysphagia, drooling, dyspnea, sniffing position, normal voice, and a thumbprint sign on X-ray.

Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)

Subglottic inflammation primarily caused by Parainfluenza $1\text{--}3$ in children aged $1\text{--}5\,\text{years}$, presenting with biphasic stridor, fever, brassy cough, hoarseness, and a steeple sign on X-ray.

Diphtheritic laryngitis

Laryngeal infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, characterized by a greyish-white membrane, cough, stridor, dysphonia, and fever.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Condition caused by HPV $6\text{--}11$ (or HPV $16\text{--}18$ for malignancy) presenting as wart-like grape cluster lesions causing hoarseness and stridor.