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Larynx - 8 dictionary results

lar⋅ynx

[lar-ingks]
–noun, plural la⋅ryn⋅ges [luh-rin-jeez] , lar⋅ynx⋅es.
1. Anatomy. a muscular and cartilaginous structure lined with mucous membrane at the upper part of the trachea in humans, in which the vocal cords are located.
2. Zoology.
a. a similar vocal organ in other mammals.
b. a corresponding structure in certain lower animals.

Origin:
1570–80; < NL < Gk lárynx
lar·ynx   (lār'ĭngks)   
n.   pl. la·ryn·ges (lə-rĭn'jēz) or lar·ynx·es
The part of the respiratory tract between the pharynx and the trachea, having walls of cartilage and muscle and containing the vocal cords enveloped in folds of mucous membrane.

[New Latin, from Greek larunx.]

Larynx

Lar"ynx\, n. [?L, from Gr. ?, ?.] (Anat.) The expanded upper end of the windpipe or trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis.

Note: In the framework of the human larynx, the thyroid cartilage, attached to the hyoid bone, makes the protuberance on the front of the neck known as Adam's apple, and is articulated below to the ringlike cricoid cartilage. This is narrow in front and high behind, where, within the thyroid, it is surmounted by the two arytenoid cartilages, from which the vocal cords pass forward to be attached together to the front of the thyroid. See Syrinx.

larynx [(lar-ingks)]

The specialized upper portion of the trachea that contains the vocal cords; the voice box.


larynx 
1578, from M.Fr., from Gk. larynx (gen. laryngos) "the upper windpipe," probably from laimos "throat," influenced by pharynx "throat, windpipe." Laryngitis (1822) is Medical L., from larynx + -itis (q.v.).

Main Entry: lar·ynx
Pronunciation: 'lar-i[ng](k)s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural la·ryn·ges /l&-'rin-(")jEz/ or lar·ynx·es
: the modified upper part of the respiratory passage of air-breathing vertebrates that is bounded above by the glottis, is continuous below withthe trachea, has a complex cartilaginous or bony skeleton capable of limited motion through the action of associated muscles, and in humans, most other mammals, and a few lower forms has a set ofelastic vocal cords that play a major role in sound production and speech called also voice box

larynx lar·ynx (lār'ĭngks)
n. pl. lar·ynx·es or la·ryn·ges (lə-rĭn'jēz)
The part of the respiratory tract between the pharynx and the trachea, having walls of cartilage and muscle and containing the vocal cords enveloped in folds of mucous membrane.

larynx   (lār'ĭngks)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural larynges (lə-rĭn'jēz) or larynxes
The upper part of the trachea in most vertebrate animals, containing the vocal cords. The walls of the larynx are made of cartilage. Sound is produced by air passing through the larynx on the way to the lungs, causing the walls of the larynx to vibrate. The pitch of the sound that is produced can be altered by the pull of muscles, which changes the tension of the vocal cords. Also called voice box.

laryngeal adjective
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