Laryngeal Ligaments

• A series of intrinsic ligaments binds all nine cartilages together, forming the larynx
• Extrinsic ligaments attach the thyroid cartilages to the hyoid bone and the cricoid cartilage to the trachea
• The vestibular ligaments and the vocal ligaments extend between the thyroid cartilage and the arytenoids
• The vestibular ligaments lie within the superior pair of folds, known as the vestibular folds
• Vestibular folds help prevent foreign objects from entering the glottis and provide protection for the more delicate vocal folds
• The vocal folds are involved with producing sounds, so they are known as the true vocal cords
• Because the vestibular folds play no part in sound production, they are called the false vocal cords