Anatomy
A thin leaf shaped cartilage situated at the inlet of the larynx. It is formed from yellow elastic fibrocartilage. It lies posterior to the root of the tongue and the hyoid bone.
Its superior end is free, its inferior end is tapered and attaches internally to below the thyroid notch via the thyroepiglottic ligament. Its middle part is attaches to the hyoid bone by the loose elastic hypoepiglottic ligament. The epiglottis forms the superior part of the anterior wall of the larynx.
Functions
The cricoid cartilage is part of the larynx which is both a valve to close the lower respiratory and an instrument to produce sound. The epiglottis guards the entrance of the glottis.
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