01 / Location & anatomical relationships
In the neck, above the trachea.
02 / Structure & organization
The laryngeal framework includes thyroid, cricoid and arytenoid cartilages. Intrinsic muscles adjust vocal-fold position and tension. The glottis includes the vocal folds and the space between them.
03 / Function
Its vocal folds vibrate to make sounds when you speak.
04 / Mechanism
Air from the lungs passes between the vocal folds. When the folds are brought close together, airflow makes them vibrate. Muscles adjust their tension and position, changing the voice's pitch and helping protect the airway.
Working together: respiratory system
Your diaphragm contracts to help draw air in. Air reaches your lungs, where oxygen crosses into the blood through the walls of tiny air sacs.
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Connect structure with function
Voice production requires airflow and fold vibration, while airway protection requires coordinated closure. Laryngeal muscles are supplied through branches of the vagus nerve.
Check your understanding
Locate the larynx in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.