The Larynx: Airway Protection and Voice

Overview

The larynx, commonly called the voice box, sits in the front of the neck between the pharynx above and the trachea below. It has two essential jobs: protecting the lower airway during swallowing and producing sound for speech.

Cartilaginous Framework

The larynx is built around several cartilages:

• Thyroid cartilage: The largest, forming the "Adam's apple."
• Cricoid cartilage: A complete ring beneath the thyroid cartilage.
• Epiglottis: A leaf-shaped flap that folds down to seal the airway during swallowing.
• Arytenoid cartilages: Small paired cartilages that anchor and move the vocal folds.

The Vocal Folds

Stretched across the laryngeal cavity are the vocal folds (cords). The gap between them is the glottis. When air is pushed past closed folds, they vibrate and produce sound; changing their tension changes pitch.

Airway Protection

During swallowing, the larynx rises and the epiglottis tips backward to direct food into the esophagus rather than the airway. If something does enter the airway, the cough reflex is triggered to expel it.

Clinical Significance

Inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis) causes hoarseness. The vocal folds are controlled by branches of the vagus nerve, so injury to these nerves — for example during thyroid surgery — can affect the voice or, if both sides are affected, the airway.

Summary

The larynx combines a cartilage framework with mobile vocal folds to protect the airway and create the voice — two functions that share the same compact structure.

For educational purposes only; not a substitute for medical advice.