THYROID CARTILAGE

Features:

• V-shaped in cross-section

• Lamellae

  • it consists of right and left lamellae

  • posterior parts of lamellae are far apart

  • anterior parts of lamellae approach each other

• Laryngeal prominence

  • lower parts of right and left lamellae fuse to form this prominence

  • they are separated by thyroid notch

  • posterior borders are free

• Superior horn

  • the lamellae project upwards to form the superior horns

  • the superior cornua are connected with greater cornua of hyoid bone through thyrohyoid ligament

• Inferior horn

  • articulates with cricoid cartilage to form cricothyroid joint

  • it is connected to cricoid cartilage through conus elasticus

  • it is convex in the front and concave in the behind

• oblique line

  • the outer surface of the laminae is marked by a slight prominence called oblique line

  • extends from the superior thyroid tubercle to the superior cornua

  • attachments

    • thyrohyoid

    • sternohyoid

    • thyrophyrangeus part of the inferior constrictor

Attachments :

• the lower border of the inferior cornua

  • gives attachments to cricothyroid

• insertion at posterior border connecting superior and inferior cornua

  • palatopharyngeal

  • salpinophayrangeus

  • stylopharyngeus

• inner aspect attachments

  • median thyroepiglottic ligament

  • thyroepiglottic muscle on both sides

  • vestibular fold on both sides

  • vocal fold on both sides

  • thyroarytenoid

  • vocalis muscle on each side