View source for Larynx

{{short description|Voice box, an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals}}
{{For|the remotely piloted vehicle|RAE Larynx}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Larynx
| Latin       = larynx
| Greek       = λάρυγξ
| Image       = Larynx external en.svg
| Caption     = Anatomy of the human larynx, [[anatomical terms of location|anterolateral]] view
| Width       =
| Image2      =
| pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ær|ɪ|ŋ|k|s}} {{respell|LARR|inks}}<ref name=CALD>{{cite dictionary|date=2013 |title=LARYNX |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/larynx |dictionary=[[Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary]] |location=[[Cambridge]] |edition=4 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503085324/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/larynx |archive-date=3 May 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref>
| Caption2    =
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Artery      =
| Vein        =
| Nerve       =
| Lymph       =
}}
The '''larynx''' ({{plural form}}: '''larynges''' or '''larynxes'''),<ref name=CALD /> commonly called the '''voice box''', is an [[organ (anatomy)|organ]] in the top of the [[neck]] involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the [[trachea]] against food aspiration. The opening of the larynx into the [[pharynx]] known as the [[laryngeal inlet]] is about 4–5 centimeters in [[diameter]].<ref name="Suárez-Quintanilla Fernández Cabrera Sharma 2021">{{cite book | vauthors = Suárez-Quintanilla J, Fernández Cabrera A, Sharma S | title=Anatomy, Head and Neck, Larynx | chapter=article-24061 | publisher=StatPearls Publishing | publication-place=Treasure Island (FL) | year=2021 | pmid=30855790 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538202/ | access-date=2021-04-02 | page= | quote=The larynx is about 4 to 5cm in length and width, with a slightly shorter anterior-posterior diameter. It is smaller in women than men, and larger in adults than children owing to its growth in puberty. A larger larynx correlates with a deeper voice.}}</ref> The larynx houses the [[vocal cords]], and manipulates [[pitch (music)|pitch]] and [[sound pressure|volume]], which is essential for [[phonation]]. It is situated just below where the tract of the [[pharynx]] splits into the trachea and the [[esophagus]].

== Structure ==
[[File:Larynx.svg|thumb|The basic parts of the human larynx.]]
The triangle-shaped larynx consists largely of cartilages that are attached to one another, and to surrounding structures, by muscles or by fibrous and elastic tissue components. The larynx is lined by a [[respiratory epithelium|ciliated columnar epithelium]] except for the vocal folds. The [[laryngeal cavity|cavity of the larynx]] extends from its triangle-shaped [[laryngeal inlet|inlet]], to the [[epiglottis]], and to the circular outlet at the lower border of the [[cricoid cartilage]], where it is continuous with the lumen of the trachea. The mucous membrane lining the larynx forms two pairs of lateral folds that project inward into its cavity. The upper folds are called the [[vestibular fold]]s. They are also sometimes called the false vocal cords for the rather obvious reason that they play no part in vocalization. The [[Tuvan throat singing#Kargyraa|Kargyraa]] style of [[Tuvan throat singing]] makes use of these folds to sing an octave lower, and they are used in [[Overtone singing#South Africa|Umngqokolo]], a type of Xhosa throat singing. The lower pair of folds are known as the vocal cords, which produce sounds needed for speech and other vocalizations. The slit-like space between the left and right vocal cords, called the rima glottidis, is the narrowest part of the larynx. The vocal cords and the rima glottidis are together designated as the glottis. The laryngeal cavity above the vestibular folds is called the vestibule. The very middle portion of the cavity between the vestibular folds and the vocal cords is the ventricle of the larynx, or laryngeal ventricle. The infraglottic cavity is the open space below the glottis.

===Location===
In adult humans, the larynx is found in the [[anterior]] neck at the level of the [[cervical vertebrae]] C3–C6. It connects the inferior part of the [[pharynx]] (hypopharynx) with the [[trachea]]. The laryngeal [[skeleton]] consists of nine [[cartilage]]s: three single ([[Epiglottic cartilage|epiglottic]], [[thyroid cartilage|thyroid]] and [[Cricoid cartilage|cricoid]]) and three paired ([[Arytenoid cartilage|arytenoid]], [[corniculate cartilages|corniculate]], and [[Cuneiform cartilages|cuneiform]]).<ref name="Knipe">{{cite web | vauthors = Knipe H |title=Laryngeal cartilages | work = Radiology Reference Article | publisher = Radiopaedia.org |url=https://radiopaedia.org/articles/laryngeal-cartilages?lang=gb }}</ref> The [[hyoid bone]] is not part of the larynx, though the larynx is suspended from the hyoid. The larynx extends vertically from the tip of the [[epiglottis]] to the inferior border of the [[cricoid cartilage]]. Its interior can be divided in supraglottis, [[glottis]] and [[subglottis]].
[[File:Illu07 larynx02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Vocal cords abducted and adducted]]

===Cartilages===
{{multiple image
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| footer = Posterior view of the larynx; disarticulated cartilages (left) and intrinsic muscles (right)
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There are nine cartilages, three unpaired and three paired (3 pairs=6), that support the mammalian larynx and form its skeleton.<ref>{{cite web|vauthors=Suárez-Quintanilla J, Fernández Cabrera A, Sharma S |title=Anatomy, Head and Neck: Larynx |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538202/ |publisher=StatPearls, National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health |access-date=2 February 2025|date=4 September 2023}}</ref>

Unpaired cartilages:
* [[Thyroid cartilage]]: This forms the [[Adam's apple]] (also called the laryngeal prominence). It is usually larger in males than in females. The [[thyrohyoid membrane]] is a ligament associated with the thyroid cartilage that connects it with the hyoid bone. It supports the front portion of the larynx. 
* [[Cricoid cartilage]]: A ring of hyaline cartilage that forms the inferior wall of the larynx. It is attached to the top of the trachea. The [[median cricothyroid ligament]] connects the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage.
* [[Epiglottis]]: A large, spoon-shaped piece of elastic cartilage. During [[swallowing]], the pharynx and larynx rise. Elevation of the pharynx widens it to receive food and drink; elevation of the larynx causes the epiglottis to move down and form a lid over the glottis, closing it off.
Paired cartilages:
* [[Arytenoid cartilage]]s: Of the paired cartilages, the arytenoid cartilages are the most important because they influence the position and tension of the [[vocal cords]]. These are triangular pieces of mostly hyaline cartilage located at the posterosuperior border of the cricoid cartilage.
* [[Corniculate cartilages]]: Horn-shaped pieces of elastic cartilage located at the apex of each arytenoid cartilage.
* [[Cuneiform cartilages]]: Club-shaped pieces of elastic cartilage located anterior to the corniculate cartilages.

===Muscles===
The muscles of the larynx are divided into ''intrinsic'' and ''extrinsic'' muscles. The extrinsic muscles act on the region and pass between the larynx and parts around it but have their origin elsewhere; the intrinsic muscles are confined entirely within the larynx and have their origin and insertion there.<ref name="Saladin">{{cite book | vauthors = Saladin KS |title=Human anatomy |date=2011 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |isbn=978-0-07-122207-5 |page=241 |edition=3rd}}</ref>

The intrinsic muscles are divided into respiratory and the phonatory muscles (the muscles of [[phonation]]). The respiratory muscles move the [[vocal cord]]s apart and serve breathing. The phonatory muscles move the vocal cords together and serve the production of voice. The main respiratory muscles are the [[posterior cricoarytenoid muscle]]s. The phonatory muscles are divided into adductors ([[lateral cricoarytenoid muscle]]s, [[arytenoid muscle]]s) and tensors ([[cricothyroid muscle]]s, [[thyroarytenoid muscle]]s).

====Intrinsic====
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles are responsible for controlling sound production.
* [[Cricothyroid muscle]] lengthen and tense the vocal cords.
* [[Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle]]s abduct and externally rotate the arytenoid cartilages, resulting in abducted vocal cords.
* [[Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle]]s adduct and internally rotate the arytenoid cartilages, increase medial compression.
* [[Transverse arytenoid muscle]] adduct the arytenoid cartilages, resulting in adducted vocal cords.<ref>Collectively, the transverse and oblique arytenoids are known as the interarytenoids.</ref>
* [[Oblique arytenoid muscle]]s narrow the [[laryngeal inlet]] by constricting the distance between the arytenoid cartilages.
* [[Thyroarytenoid muscle]]s narrow the laryngeal inlet, shortening the vocal cords, and lowering voice pitch. The internal thyroarytenoid is the portion of the thyroarytenoid that vibrates to produce sound.

Notably the only muscle capable of separating the vocal cords for normal breathing is the posterior cricoarytenoid.  If this muscle is incapacitated on both sides, the inability to pull the vocal cords apart (abduct) will cause difficulty breathing. Bilateral injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve would cause this condition.  It is also worth noting that all muscles are innervated by the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus except the cricothyroid muscle, which is innervated by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (a branch of the vagus).

Additionally, intrinsic laryngeal muscles present a constitutive [[Calcium buffering|Ca<sup>2+</sup>-buffering]] profile that predicts their better ability to handle calcium changes in comparison to other muscles.<ref name="Expression of calcium-buffering pro">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ferretti R, Marques MJ, Khurana TS, Santo Neto H | title = Expression of calcium-buffering proteins in rat intrinsic laryngeal muscles | journal = Physiological Reports | volume = 3 | issue = 6 | article-number = e12409 | date = June 2015 | pmid = 26109185 | pmc = 4510619 | doi = 10.14814/phy2.12409 }}</ref> This profile is in agreement with their function as very fast muscles with a well-developed capacity for prolonged work. Studies suggests that mechanisms involved in the prompt sequestering of Ca<sup>2+</sup> (sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup>-reuptake proteins, plasma membrane pumps, and cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup>-buffering proteins) are particularly elevated in laryngeal muscles, indicating their importance for the myofiber function and protection against disease, such as [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy]].<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com">{{cite journal | vauthors = Marques MJ, Ferretti R, Vomero VU, Minatel E, Neto HS | title = Intrinsic laryngeal muscles are spared from myonecrosis in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy | journal = Muscle & Nerve | volume = 35 | issue = 3 | pages = 349–353 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17143878 | doi = 10.1002/mus.20697 | s2cid = 41968787 }}</ref> Furthermore, different levels of Orai1 in rat intrinsic laryngeal muscles and [[extraocular muscle]]s over the limb muscle suggests a role for store operated [[Calcium channel|calcium entry channels]] in those muscles' functional properties and signaling mechanisms.

====Extrinsic====
The extrinsic laryngeal muscles support and position the larynx within the mid-cervical cereal region. 
[[File:Gray386.png|thumb|Extrinsic laryngeal muscles]]
* [[Sternothyroid muscle]]s depress the larynx. (Innervated by ansa cervicalis)
* [[Omohyoid muscle]]s depress the larynx. (Ansa cervicalis)
* [[Sternohyoid muscle]]s depress the larynx. (Ansa cervicalis)
* [[Inferior constrictor muscle]]s. (CN X)
* [[Thyrohyoid muscle]]s elevates the larynx. (C1)
* [[Digastric]] elevates the larynx. (CN V<sub>3</sub>, CN VII)
* [[Stylohyoid]] elevates the larynx. (CN VII)
* [[Mylohyoid muscle|Mylohyoid]] elevates the larynx. (CN V<sub>3</sub>)
* [[Geniohyoid]] elevates the larynx. (C1)
* [[Hyoglossus]] elevates the larynx. (CN XII)
* [[Genioglossus]] elevates the larynx. (CN XII)

===Nerve supply===
The larynx is [[innervate]]d by branches of the [[vagus nerve]] on each side. Sensory innervation to the glottis and laryngeal vestibule is by the internal branch of the [[superior laryngeal nerve]]. The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve innervates the [[cricothyroid muscle]].  Motor innervation to all other muscles of the larynx and sensory innervation to the subglottis is by the [[recurrent laryngeal nerve]]. While the sensory input described above is (general) visceral sensation (diffuse, poorly localized), the vocal cords also receives general somatic sensory innervation (proprioceptive and touch) by the superior laryngeal nerve.

Injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve causes weakened phonation because the vocal cords cannot be tightened. Injury to one of the recurrent laryngeal nerves produces [[hoarseness]], if both are damaged the voice may or may not be preserved, but breathing becomes difficult.

===Development===
The larynx is derived from the mesoderm of the fourth and sixth pharyngeal arches. In newborn infants, the larynx is initially at the level of the C2–C3 vertebrae, and is further forward and higher relative to its position in the adult body.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/grnds/Reflux-Aspiration-050223/GERD-pedi-050223.htm |title=GERD and aspiration in the child: diagnosis and treatment |date=February 23, 2005 |work=Grand Rounds Presentation |publisher=UTMB Dept. of Otolaryngology |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601180918/http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/Reflux-Aspiration-050223/GERD-pedi-050223.htm |archive-date=June 1, 2010 }}</ref> The larynx descends as the child grows.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|2009}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Noden|Van De Water|2006}}</ref>

==Laryngeal cavity==
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Laryngeal cavity
| Latin       = cavitas laryngis
| Image       = Gray953.png
| Caption     = Sagittal section of the larynx and upper part of the trachea.
| Width       = 
| Image2      = Gray954.png
| Caption2    = Coronal section of larynx and upper part of trachea.
| Precursor   = 
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| Vein        = 
| Nerve       = 
| Lymph       = 
}}
The '''laryngeal cavity''' ('''cavity of the larynx''') extends from the [[laryngeal inlet]] downwards to the lower border of the [[cricoid cartilage]] where it is continuous with that of the [[trachea]].<ref>[http://www.emory.edu/ANATOMY/AnatomyManual/pharynx.html "Pharynx"] Emory University Anatomy Manual. Retrieved 2015-09-10.</ref><ref>[https://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_8/chapter_53.html "Chapter 53: The pharynx and larynx"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813115350/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_8/chapter_53.html |date=2018-08-13 }} ''Basic Human Anatomy''. Retrieved 2015-09-10.</ref>

It is divided into two parts by the projection of the [[vocal fold]]s, between which is a narrow triangular opening, the [[rima glottidis]].

The portion of the cavity of the larynx above the vestibular folds is called the [[laryngeal vestibule]]; it is wide and triangular in shape, its base or anterior wall presenting, however, about its center the backward projection of the tubercle of the epiglottis.

It contains the [[vestibular fold]]s, and between these and the vocal folds are the [[laryngeal ventricle]]s.

The portion below the vocal folds is called the infraglottic cavity. It is at first of an elliptical form, but lower down it widens out, assumes a circular form, and is continuous with the tube of the trachea.

== Function ==

===Sound generation===
Sound is generated in the larynx, and that is where [[pitch (music)|pitch]] and [[loudness|volume]] are manipulated. The strength of [[exhalation|expiration]] from the lungs also contributes to loudness.

Manipulation of the larynx is used to generate a source sound with a particular fundamental frequency, or pitch.  This source sound is altered as it travels through the [[vocal tract]], configured differently based on the position of the [[tongue]], [[lip]]s, [[mouth]], and [[pharynx]].  The process of altering a source sound as it passes through the filter of the vocal tract creates the many different vowel and consonant sounds of the world's languages as well as tone, certain realizations of stress and other types of linguistic prosody. The larynx also has a similar function to the lungs in creating pressure differences required for sound production; a constricted larynx can be raised or lowered affecting the volume of the oral cavity as necessary in glottalic consonants.

The vocal cords can be held close together (by adducting the arytenoid cartilages) so that they vibrate (see [[phonation]]). The muscles attached to the arytenoid cartilages control the degree of opening. Vocal cord length and tension can be controlled by rocking the [[thyroid cartilage]] forward and backward on the [[cricoid cartilage]] (either directly by contracting the cricothyroids or indirectly by changing the vertical position of the larynx), by manipulating the tension of the muscles within the vocal cords, and by moving the arytenoids forward or backward. This causes the pitch produced during [[phonation]] to rise or fall. In most males the vocal cords are longer and have a greater mass than most females' vocal cords, producing a lower pitch.

The vocal apparatus consists of two pairs of folds, the [[vestibular fold]]s (false vocal cords) and the true [[vocal cords]]. The vestibular folds are covered by [[respiratory epithelium]], while the vocal cords are covered by [[stratified squamous epithelium]]. The vestibular folds are not responsible for sound production, but rather for resonance. The exceptions to this are found in [[Overtone singing#Tibet|Tibetan chanting]] and Kargyraa, a style of [[Tuvan throat singing]]. Both make use of the vestibular folds to create an undertone. These false vocal cords do not contain muscle, while the true vocal cords do have skeletal muscle.

===Other===
[[File:Normal Epiglottis.jpg|thumb|Image of endoscopy]]
The most important role of the larynx is its protective function, the prevention of foreign objects from entering the lungs by [[coughing]] and other reflexive actions.  A cough is initiated by a deep inhalation through the vocal cords, followed by the elevation of the larynx and the tight adduction (closing) of the vocal cords.  The forced expiration that follows, assisted by tissue recoil and the muscles of expiration, blows the vocal cords apart, and the high pressure expels the irritating object out of the throat.  Throat clearing is less violent than coughing, but is a similar increased respiratory effort countered by the tightening of the laryngeal musculature.  Both coughing and throat clearing are predictable and necessary actions because they clear the respiratory passageway, but both place the vocal cords under significant strain.<ref name="Seikel-etal-2010-223">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Seikel|King|Drumright|2010|loc=Nonspeech laryngeal function, pp. 223–225}}</ref>

Another important role of the larynx is abdominal fixation, a kind of [[Valsalva maneuver]] in which the lungs are filled with air in order to stiffen the thorax so that forces applied for lifting can be translated down to the legs.  This is achieved by a deep inhalation followed by the adduction of the vocal cords.  Grunting while lifting heavy objects is the result of some air escaping through the adducted vocal cords ready for [[phonation]].<ref name="Seikel-etal-2010-223" />

Abduction of the vocal cords is important during physical exertion.  The vocal cords are separated by about {{Convert|8|mm|abbr=on}} during normal respiration, but this width is doubled during forced respiration.<ref name="Seikel-etal-2010-223" />

During [[swallowing]], elevation of the posterior portion of the tongue levers (inverts) the epiglottis over the glottis' opening to prevent swallowed material from entering the larynx which leads to the [[lung]]s, and provides a path for a food or liquid bolus to "slide" into the esophagus; the hyo-laryngeal complex is also pulled upwards to assist this process. Stimulation of the larynx by aspirated food or liquid produces a strong [[cough]] [[reflex]] to protect the lungs.

In addition, intrinsic laryngeal muscles are spared from some muscle wasting disorders, such as [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy]],  may facilitate the development of novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of muscle wasting in a variety of clinical scenarios. ILM have a calcium regulation system profile suggestive of a better ability to handle calcium changes in comparison to other muscles, and this may provide a mechanistic insight for their unique pathophysiological properties<ref name="Expression of calcium-buffering pro"/>

==Clinical significance==

===Disorders===
There are several things that can cause a larynx to not function properly.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|1993}}</ref> Some symptoms are hoarseness, loss of voice, pain in the throat or ears, and breathing difficulties. 
* [[Acute laryngitis]] is the sudden inflammation and swelling of the larynx. It is caused by the common cold or by excessive shouting. It is not serious. 
* [[Chronic laryngitis]] is caused by smoking, dust, frequent yelling, or prolonged exposure to polluted air. It is much more serious than acute laryngitis.
* [[Presbylarynx]] is a condition in which age-related atrophy of the soft tissues of the larynx results in weak voice and restricted vocal range and stamina. Bowing of the anterior portion of the vocal colds is found on laryngoscopy.
* [[Peptic ulcer|Ulcers]] may be caused by the prolonged presence of an [[endotracheal tube]].
* [[Polyp (medicine)|Polyps]] and [[vocal cord nodule]]s are small bumps caused by prolonged exposure to [[tobacco smoke]] and vocal misuse, respectively.
* Two related types of [[cancer of the larynx]], namely [[squamous cell carcinoma]] and [[verrucous carcinoma]], are strongly associated with repeated exposure to cigarette smoke and alcohol.
* [[Vocal cord paresis]] is weakness of one or both vocal cords that can greatly impact daily life.
* Idiopathic [[Laryngospasm|laryngeal spasm]].
* [[Laryngopharyngeal reflux]] is a condition in which acid from the stomach irritates and burns the larynx. Similar damage can occur with [[gastroesophageal reflux disease]] (GERD).<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|1997}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lipan|Reidenberg|Laitman|2006}}</ref>
* [[Laryngomalacia]] is a very common condition of infancy, in which the soft, immature cartilage of the upper larynx collapses inward during inhalation, causing airway obstruction.
* [[Laryngeal perichondritis]], the inflammation of the [[perichondrium]] of laryngeal cartilages, causing airway obstruction.
* [[Laryngeal paralysis]] is a condition seen in some mammals (including [[dog]]s) in which the larynx no longer opens as wide as required for the passage of air, and impedes [[respiration (physiology)|respiration]]. In mild cases it can lead to exaggerated or "raspy" breathing or [[Thermoregulation|panting]], and in serious cases can pose a considerable need for treatment.
* [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy]], intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILM) are spared from the lack of [[dystrophin]] and may serve as a useful model to study the mechanisms of muscle sparing in [[neuromuscular disease]]s.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com"/> Dystrophic ILM presented a significant increase in the expression of [[calcium-binding proteins]]. The increase of calcium-binding proteins in dystrophic ILM may permit better maintenance of calcium homeostasis, with the consequent absence of [[myonecrosis]]. The results further support the concept that abnormal calcium buffering is involved in these neuromuscular diseases.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ferretti R, Marques MJ, Pertille A, Santo Neto H | title = Sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic-reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and calsequestrin are overexpressed in spared intrinsic laryngeal muscles of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice | journal = Muscle & Nerve | volume = 39 | issue = 5 | pages = 609–615 | date = May 2009 | pmid = 19301368 | doi = 10.1002/mus.21154 | s2cid = 25759998 }}</ref>

==Treatments==
<!-- NOTE: [[Electrolarynx]] links here. Do not rename section without fixing the redirect and/or adding an {{anchor}} with the old name. -->

Patients who have lost the use of their larynx are typically prescribed the use of an [[electrolarynx]] device.<ref name=WebWhispers>{{cite web |url=http://www.webwhispers.org/news/dec2004.htm |title=Whispers on the Web - December 2004 |vauthors=Helms D |date=December 2004 |access-date=2019-08-06 |archive-date=2017-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212044915/http://www.webwhispers.org/news/dec2004.htm }}</ref><!-- Do not delete the following cite just because it's from YouTube.  It's an official video uploaded by its producer, the South East Coast Laryngectomy Support Groups (UK). --><ref name=SECLSG>{{cite video |title=Communication after laryngectomy | publisher=South East Coast Laryngectomy Support Groups (UK) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4azcU6i2IE | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/R4azcU6i2IE| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]] |date=2011-03-09 |access-date=2013-03-14}}{{cbignore}}</ref><!-- Do not delete the following cite just because it's from YouTube.  It's a professionally produced news video consisting of content properly licensed from footage owner Cineflix. --><ref name=YouTube_laryngeal_transplantation>{{cite video |title=Speaking with a Dead Man's Voice by Organ Transplant Surgery {{!}} Only Human |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2tQPhOHGc | author = Only Human | work = Cineflix | publisher = [[YouTube]] |date=2018-06-20 |access-date=2019-08-06}}</ref>  Larynx [[Organ transplant|transplants]] are a rare procedure.<ref name=YouTube_laryngeal_transplantation /><ref name=Laryngoscope_laryngeal_transplantation>{{cite journal | vauthors = Krishnan G, Du C, Fishman JM, Foreman A, Lott DG, Farwell G, Belafsky P, Krishnan S, Birchall MA | display-authors = 6 | title = The current status of human laryngeal transplantation in 2017: A state of the field review | journal = The Laryngoscope | volume = 127 | issue = 8 | pages = 1861–1868 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28224630 | doi = 10.1002/lary.26503 | s2cid = 24360597 }}</ref>  The world's first successful operation took place in 1998 at the [[Cleveland Clinic]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland,  Ohio, USA]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Rare transplant gives California woman a voice for the first time in a decade|url=http://nonotesinging.com/woman-talks-receiving-larynx-transplant/|vauthors=Jensen B|date=January 21, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628112901/http://nonotesinging.com/woman-talks-receiving-larynx-transplant/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and the second took place in October 2010 at the [[UC Davis Medical Center|University of California Davis Medical Center]] in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento, California, USA]].<ref>{{cite news| vauthors = Johnson A |title=Woman Finds Her Voice After Rare Transplant|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704881304576093980834273812|access-date=4 September 2012|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>

==Other animals==
[[File:Kehlkopf Pferd.jpg|thumb|160px|Cut through the larynx of a horse<br />
(frontal section, posterior view)<br />1&nbsp;[[hyoid bone]]; 2&nbsp;[[epiglottis]]; 3&nbsp;[[vestibular fold]]; 4&nbsp;[[vocal fold]]; 5&nbsp;[[ventricularis muscle]]; 6&nbsp;[[ventricle of larynx]]; 7&nbsp;[[vocalis muscle]]; 8&nbsp;[[thyroid cartilage]]; 9&nbsp;cricoid cartilage; 10&nbsp;[[infraglottic cavity]]; 11&nbsp;first [[tracheal]] cartilage; 12 [[trachea]]]]
Pioneering work on the structure and evolution of the larynx was carried out in the 1920s by the British comparative anatomist [[Victor Negus]], culminating in his monumental work ''The Mechanism of the Larynx'' (1929). Negus, however, pointed out that the descent of the larynx reflected the reshaping and descent of the human tongue into the pharynx. This process is not complete until age six to eight years. Some researchers, such as [[Philip Lieberman]], [[Dennis Klatt]], [[Bart de Boer]] and [[Kenneth N. Stevens|Kenneth Stevens]] using computer-modeling techniques have suggested that the species-specific human tongue allows the vocal tract (the airway above the larynx) to assume the shapes necessary to produce speech sounds that enhance the robustness of human speech. Sounds such as the vowels of the words {{angle bracket|see}} and {{angle bracket|do}}, [i] and [u] (in phonetic notation), have been shown to be less subject to confusion{{Compared to?|date=August 2022}} in classic studies such as the 1950 Peterson and Barney investigation of the possibilities for computerized [[speech recognition]].<ref name="Lieberman">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lieberman|2006}}</ref>

In contrast, though other species have low larynges, their tongues remain anchored in their mouths and their vocal tracts cannot produce the range of speech sounds of humans. The ability to lower the larynx transiently in some species extends the length of their vocal tract, which as Fitch showed creates the acoustic illusion that they are larger. Research at Haskins Laboratories in the 1960s showed that speech allows humans to achieve a vocal communication rate that exceeds the fusion frequency of the auditory system by fusing sounds together into syllables and words. The additional speech sounds that the human tongue enables us to produce, particularly [i], allow humans to unconsciously infer the length of the vocal tract of the person who is talking, a critical element in recovering the [[phoneme]]s that make up a word.<ref name="Lieberman" />

===Non-mammals===
Most [[tetrapod]] species possess a larynx, but its structure is typically simpler than that found in mammals. The cartilages surrounding the larynx are apparently a remnant of the original [[gill arch]]es in fish, and are a common feature, but not all are always present. For example, the thyroid cartilage is found only in mammals. Similarly, only mammals possess a true [[epiglottis]], although a flap of non-cartilagenous [[mucosa]] is found in a similar position in many other groups. In modern amphibians, the laryngeal skeleton is considerably reduced; [[frog]]s have only the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, while [[salamander]]s possess only the arytenoids.<ref name=VB>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Romer|Parsons|1977|pp=214–215, 336}}</ref>

An example of a frog that possesses a larynx is the [[túngara frog]]. While the larynx is the main sound producing organ in túngara frogs, it serves a higher significance due to its contribution to mating call, which consist of two components: 'whine' and 'chuck'.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ryan |first1=Michael J |last2=Guerra |first2=Mónica A |title=The mechanism of sound production in túngara frogs and its role in sexual selection and speciation |journal=Current Opinion in Neurobiology |date=1 October 2014 |volume=28 |pages=54–59 |doi=10.1016/j.conb.2014.06.008 |pmid=25033110 |s2cid=14153228 |language=en |issn=0959-4388}}</ref> While 'whine' induces female phonotaxis and allows species recognition, 'chuck' increases mating attractiveness.<ref name="ryan">{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=M. J. |chapter=Túngara Frog: A Model for Sexual Selection and Communication |title=Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior |date=1 January 2010 |pages=453–461 |doi=10.1016/b978-0-08-045337-8.00033-4 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-08-045337-8 |language=en}}</ref> In particular, the túngara frog produces 'chuck' by vibrating the fibrous mass attached to the larynx.<ref name="ryan" />

Vocal folds are found only in mammals, and a few [[lizard]]s. As a result, many reptiles and amphibians are essentially voiceless; frogs use ridges in the trachea to modulate sound, while [[bird]]s have a separate sound-producing organ, the [[Syrinx (biology)|syrinx]].<ref name=VB/>

==History and etymology==
The ancient Greek physician [[Galen]] first described the larynx, describing it as the "first and supremely most important instrument of the voice".<ref name=HYDMAN2008>{{cite book| vauthors = Hydman J |title=Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury|year=2008|location=Stockholm|isbn=978-91-7409-123-6|page=8}}</ref>

The word ''larynx'' is [[Loanword|borrowed]] from the [[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|λάρυγξ}} (''lárunx'', {{lit|{{gloss|larynx, gullet, throat}}}}).<ref name=etymology>{{cite dictionary|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=larynx|title=''Larynx'' Etymology|dictionary=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]|access-date=25 October 2015}}</ref>

==Additional images==
<gallery>
File:Slide14rom.JPG|Larynx. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
File:Slide36uru.JPG|Larynx. Deep dissection. Posterior view.
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Anatomy-terms}}
* [[Articulatory phonetics]]
* [[Electrolarynx]]
* [[Histology of the vocal cords]]
* [[Origin of speech]]

== References ==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book | vauthors = Laitman JT, Noden DM, Van De Water TR | chapter = Formation of the larynx: from homeobox genes to critical periods | pages = 3–20 | veditors = Rubin JS, Sataloff RT, Korovin GS | title = Diagnosis & Treatment Voice Disorders | year = 2006 | publisher = Plural | location = San Diego | isbn = 978-1-59756-007-8 | oclc = 63279542 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Noden|Van De Water|2006}} -->
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Laitman JT, Reidenberg JS | title = Specializations of the human upper respiratory and upper digestive systems as seen through comparative and developmental anatomy | journal = Dysphagia | volume = 8 | issue = 4 | pages = 318–325 | year = 1993 | pmid = 8269722 | doi = 10.1007/BF01321770 | s2cid = 23308320 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|1993}} -->
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Laitman JT, Reidenberg JS | title = The human aerodigestive tract and gastroesophageal reflux: an evolutionary perspective | journal = The American Journal of Medicine | volume = 103 | issue = 5A | pages = 2S–8S | date = November 1997 | pmid = 9422615 | doi = 10.1016/s0002-9343(97)00313-6 }} <!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|1997}} -->
* {{Cite book | vauthors = Laitman JT, Reidenberg JS | chapter = The evolution of the human larynx: Nature's great experiment | pages = 19–38 | veditors = Fried MP, Ferlito A | title = The Larynx | edition = 3rd | year = 2009 | publisher = Plural | location = San Diego | isbn = 978-1-59756-062-7 | oclc = 183609898 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Laitman|Reidenberg|2009}} -->
* {{Cite book | vauthors = Lieberman P | title = Toward an Evolutionary Biology of Language | year = 2006 | publisher = Harvard University Press | isbn = 0-674-02184-3 | oclc = 62766735 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Lieberman|2006}} -->
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Lipan MJ, Reidenberg JS, Laitman JT | title = Anatomy of reflux: a growing health problem affecting structures of the head and neck | journal = The Anatomical Record Part B: The New Anatomist | volume = 289 | issue = 6 | pages = 261–270 | date = November 2006 | pmid = 17109421 | doi = 10.1002/ar.b.20120 | doi-access = free | oclc = 110307385 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Lipan|Reidenberg|Laitman|2006}} -->
* {{Cite book | vauthors = Romer AS, Parsons TS | title = The Vertebrate Body | year = 1977 | publisher = Holt-Saunders International | location = Philadelphia, PA | isbn = 0-03-910284-X }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Romer|Parsons|1977}} -->
* {{Cite book | vauthors = Seikel JA, King DW, Drumright DG | title = Anatomy & Physiology for Speech, Language, and Hearing | edition = 4th | year = 2010 | location = Delmar, NY | publisher = Cengage Learning | isbn = 978-1-4283-1223-4 }}<!-- {{Harvard citation no brackets|Seikel|King|Drumright|2010}} -->
{{Refend}}

{{Larynx anatomy}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Larynx| ]]
[[Category:Human head and neck]]
[[Category:Human voice]]
[[Category:Phonetics]]
[[Category:Human throat]]
[[Category:Respiratory system]]
[[Category:Speech organs]]