Thyroid cartilage. Structure, cartilage functions

Thyroid cartilago , cartilago thyroidea, is located above the arc of the cricoid cartilage , has the form of a shield, in which two symmetrical quadrangular plates, right and left, laminae dextra et sinistra, are fused at an angle open posteriorly.

The upper edge of the corner protrudes anteriorly more than the lower one and has an upper thyroid incision, incisura thyroidea superior.

This area of ​​cartilage is well probed through the skin and is called the protrusion of the larynx, prominentia laryngea. A less deep lower thyroid incision, incisura thyroidea inferior, is located on the lower edge of the thyroid cartilage. The rear, free, edge of each plate is thickened and has upward and downward processes - upper and lower horns, cornu superius et cornu inferius. The upper horns face the underlying hyoid bone, the lower horns are joined to the lateral surface of the transverse ciliary cartilage. On the upper and lower margins of the plate, somewhat anterior to the horns, respectively, the upper and lower thyroid tubercles, tubercula thyroidei superius and inferius.

On the outer surface of the plates passes an oblique line, linea obliqua, - a trail of attachment of the sternum-thyroid and thyroid-lingual muscles. Near the upper edge of the plate sometimes there is a thyroid opening, foramen thyroideum, which transmits the upper laryngeal artery, a. Laryngea superior (usually it penetrates the duodenum, membrana thyrohyoidea).

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