The aryepiglottic folds are triangular folds of mucous membrane of the

larynx The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal inlet is about ...

. They enclose ligamentous and muscular fibres. They extend from the lateral borders of the

epiglottis The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from entering the trachea and the lungs. It stays open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx. During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration of food in ...

to the

arytenoid cartilages The arytenoid cartilages () are a pair of small three-sided pyramids which form part of the larynx. They are the site of attachment of the vocal cords. Each is pyramidal or ladle-shaped and has three surfaces, a base, and an apex. The arytenoid ...

, hence the name 'aryepiglottic'. They contain the aryepiglottic muscles and form the upper borders of the quadrangular membrane. They have a role in growling as a form of

phonation The term phonation has slightly different meanings depending on the subfield of phonetics. Among some phoneticians, ''phonation'' is the process by which the vocal folds produce certain sounds through quasi-periodic vibration. This is the defini ...

. They may be narrowed and cause stridor, or be shortened and cause

laryngomalacia Laryngomalacia (literally, "soft larynx") is the most common cause of chronic stridor in infancy, in which the soft, immature cartilage of the upper larynx collapses inward during inhalation, causing airway obstruction. It can also be seen in o ...

Structure

The aryepiglottic folds are triangular. They are narrow in front, wide behind, and slope obliquely downward and backward. They originate from the lateral borders of the

. They insert into the

. In front, they are bounded by the

. Behind, they are bounded by the apices of the

, the

corniculate cartilages The corniculate cartilages (cartilages of Santorini) are two small conical nodules consisting of elastic cartilage, which articulate with the summits of the arytenoid cartilages and serve to prolong them posteriorly and medially. They are situate ...

, and the interarytenoid notch. Within the posterior part of each aryepiglottic fold exists a

cuneiform cartilage In the human larynx, the cuneiform cartilages (from Latin: ''cunei'', "wedge-shaped"; also known as cartilages of Wrisberg) are two small, elongated pieces of yellow elastic cartilage, placed one on either side, in the aryepiglottic fold. The cu ...

which forms whitish prominence, the

cuneiform tubercle Cuneiform is a logo- syllabic script that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Middle East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. It is named for the characteristic wedge-s ...

. The aryepiglottic folds contain the aryepiglottic muscles. They form the upper borders of the quadrangular membrane, and the lateral borders of the

laryngeal inlet The laryngeal inlet (laryngeal aditus, laryngeal aperture) is the opening that connects the pharynx and the larynx. Borders Its borders are formed by: * the free curved edge of the epiglottis, anteriorly * the arytenoid cartilages, the cornicul ...

Function

Phonation

Under certain circumstances, the aryepiglottic folds take part in

, for instance in the singing technique of vocal growl, such as practiced by

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

and other

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

singers. The approximation of the aryepiglottic folds during vocalization may establish sustained co-

oscillation Oscillation is the repetitive or periodic variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum ...

s, at relatively low frequencies, producing the growl or growling effect.

Clinical significance

Stridor

If the aryepiglottic folds narrow the

, they may cause stridor.

Laryngomalacia

The aryepiglottic folds are shortened in

. They may be surgically removed to prevent problems eating and

shortness of breath Shortness of breath (SOB), also medically known as dyspnea (in AmE) or dyspnoea (in BrE), is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing disc ...

Gallery

File:Slide5sss.JPG, Aryepiglottic fold File:Slide16sss.JPG, Aryepiglottic fold File:Slide9vvv.JPG, Aryepiglottic fold File:Slide8kkkk.JPG, Aryepiglottic fold File:Slide3kuku.JPG, Deep dissection of larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind

References

Bibliography

* ''Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde'', 12. Auflage, 2005, S.239–45. * Schuhmacher GH, Aumüller G, ''Topographische Anatomie des Menschen'', Elsevier, 2004,

External links

* * * () {{Authority control Human throat