Mucous membrane of the larynx

The mucosa of the larynx , tunica mucosa laryngis, is connected to the cartilages by the fibrous elastic membrane of the larynx, membrana fibroelastica laryngis, formed by a connective tissue rich in elastic fibers.

The mucous membrane of the larynx in places has a loose connection with the cartilage, especially in the area of ​​the scapular fold, plica aryepiglottica, in the region of the free edge of the vocal cords.

The mucous membrane covering the ligament of the vestibule forms two folds of the vestibule, plicae vestibulares. The mucous membrane covering the upper free edge of the elastic cone, the conus elasticus, the vocal cords and the vocal muscle, forms two vocal folds, plicae vocales.

The space between the two vocal folds is called the glottis, rima glottidis.

On the mucosa of the lateral surface of the larynx, between the vocal fold and the fold of the vestibule, there is a depression suitable for the base of the ligament of the vestibule, the ventriculus laryngis. This paired, small-sized depression, which is located along the inner surface of the plate of the thyroid cartilage and ends with a so-called laryngeal sac, sacculus laryngis.

The mucous membrane of most of the larynx is covered with a ciliated epithelium, and only in the region of the posterior surface of the epiglottis, as well as in the region of the vocal fold and on the inner surface of the arytenoid cartilage, is a multilayered flat epithelium.

Throughout the mucous membrane of the larynx, with the exception of the edges of the vocal folds, a large number of excretory ducts of the laryngeal mucosa opens, glandulae laryngeales. A large accumulation of glands is also present in the area of ​​the ventricle of the larynx, as well as on the posterior surface of the epiglottis and in the region of the intercapital fold.