larynx
Let an agent explain the larynx and its parts in clinical and biological terms, relay its functions in breathing, protection and voice, describe variation across species, relay conditions and care from clinical sources, and route personal voice or airway concerns to clinicians.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the larynx and its parts in clinical and biological terms, relay its functions in breathing, protection and voice, describe variation across species, relay conditions and care from clinical sources, and route personal voice or airway concerns to clinicians.
The organ in the neck of mammals and other tetrapods that houses the vocal folds and connects the pharynx to the trachea, made of cartilages including the thyroid, cricoid and arytenoids joined by muscles and ligaments; the larynx protects the airway during swallowing, regulates airflow, and produces voice by vibration of the vocal folds, and its structure varies across species, as in the harbour seal and other marine mammals.
What it is for: Protecting the airway and producing voice.
It can be explain structure and functions; describe variation across species; relay conditions and care in general terms; route personal concerns to clinicians.
Distinguishing features
Cartilage framework
Vocal folds
Airway protection
Species variation
What it looks like
A cartilaginous box in the front of the neck, visible externally as the laryngeal prominence in many adults.
Physical character
vocal fold length, adult: about 12-24 mm - shorter in women than men
How it is recognised
Cartilaginous organ housing the vocal folds
Between pharynx and trachea
The pharynx is above; the trachea is below; aphonia is a loss of voice, not the organ
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is part of - the upper airway
contains - the sound source
is affected by - when voice is lost, listed in registry terms
In practice
Families and kinds
human larynx
laryngeal parts: vocal folds, cartilages, muscles
larynx in other mammals including marine mammals such as the harbour seal
larynx in birds, where the syrinx produces sound instead
developmental and clinical variants
Identifiers
TA2 larynx Terminologia Anatomica
MeSH D007830 larynx
Standards and regulation
Clinical guidelines in otolaryngology
Occupational voice health guidance
Airway management standards in anaesthesia
Failure modes and hazards
Airway obstruction
Laryngeal cancer and voice disorders
Agents giving personal medical advice
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.larynx
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Anatomy Structure and function.
Science.
Structure
Structure.
Structure
Structure.
- How is the larynx built, and what are its cartilages, muscles and folds? definition
- Is the question about the larynx, the pharynx, the trachea or a voice disorder? boundary
Function
Functions.
Function
Function.
- How does the larynx protect the airway, regulate breathing and produce voice? definition
- Which entry fits phonation? action
Health Conditions and care.
Clinical.
Conditions
Conditions.
Conditions
Conditions.
- What conditions affect the larynx, from laryngitis to cancer, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user describing breathing difficulty or persistent hoarseness, which need a clinician? boundary
Care
Care and voice health.
Care
Care.
- What do guidelines say about voice care, airway management and treatment principles? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Biology Comparative and development.
Science.
Species
Across species.
Species
Species.
- How does the larynx differ across mammals, including diving mammals, and why do birds use a syrinx? provenance
- Which entry fits comparative anatomy? action
Development
Development and evolution.
Development
Development.
- How does the larynx develop and how did it evolve, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits the evolution of speech? action
Context Voice and study.
Context.
Voice
Voice and speech.
Voice
Voice.
- How do singers and speakers use the larynx, and how is voice studied? provenance
- Which entry fits voice science? action
History
History.
History
History.
- How was the larynx understood historically, and how did laryngoscopy develop? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should vocal fold be a separate primary entry?
- How should clinical guidelines be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming parts and an animal larynx; should they be split off?