The epiglottis is fixed at the anterior portion of the larynx, at the root of the tongue, within the angle formed by the two surfaces of the thyroid cartilage. It is a very elastic fibro-cartilage, freely moving in a posterior direction. Its color is yellowish and its general form that of a spoon; its upper surface is covered with a multitude of little mucous glands set in shallow cavities. In the downward passage of food the epiglottis covers the upper orifice of the larynx like a valve, over which the food passes into the œsophagus or gullet, without being able to enter the larynx and the trachea. In the centre of its interior side there is a little rounded cartilage, movable in every direction, which has as yet no name. Czermak mentions it first in his observations with the laryngoscope. In the male larynx, after the voice has altered, the cartilages become more or less ossified and gradually harden with increasing age. The cartilages of the female larynx, with rare exceptions, usually continue with little or no change. The muscles, by which the movements of the larynx are effected, are:
- The posterior crico-arytenoid.
- The lateral crico-arytenoid.
- The crico-arytenoid.
- The thyro-arytenoid.
- The arytenoid.
- The internal thyro-arytenoid.
In late works upon laryngoscopy the different muscles of the larynx are variously designated and divided. Bataille terms the first three of the above-named muscles the exterior muscles of the larynx; the three others he comprehends under the name of thyro-arytenoid or vocal muscle, which divides into three slips in the interior of the larynx. This, however, as well as the description of the character and action of the different muscles, belongs to the department of science. What I have already stated seems to me to be sufficient for an understanding of the action of these organs in the production of sound in the different registers. The reader is referred to any good manual of anatomy for a full description of the muscles, ligaments, nerves, vessels and membranes.
[Return to page 41], [page 60], [page 61]
THE END.
Transcriber’s Note.
The following amendments have been made to the original text:
- [Page 24]:
“and were the forerunners of the opera and oratorio”
for “and were the fore-/runners of the opera and oratorio” - [Page 26]:
“But in that brilliant springtime of vocal art”
for “But in that brilliant spring-/time of vocal art” - [Page 30]:
“i. e., the old singing masters taught”
No comma in original (added for consistency). - [Page 42]:
“by their anterior apophyses, without leaving any space”
Comma missing from original. - [Page 48]:
“vol. x. 4th Series, pp. 218–221, 1855.”
for “vol. x. 4th Series, p. 218–221, 1855.” - [Page 66]:
“i. e., those tones where a different action”
No comma in original (added for consistency). - [Page 79]:
“the tones of the head register.”
Period missing from original. - [Page 87]:
“the reed of the mouthpiece.”
for “the reed of the mouth-/piece.” - [Page 108]:
“the air coming from the lungs through the trachea,”
for “the air coming from the lungs through the treachea,” - [Page 118]:
“then the high inharmonic over-tones are prominent,”
for “then the high inharmonic overtones are prominent,” - [Page 132]:
for (compare fourth note)- [Footnote 18]:
“struggle to establish the unity of the fatherland.”
for “struggle to establish the unity of the father-/land.”