larynx

[ lar-ingks ]

noun

, plural la·ryn·ges [l, uh, -, 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.
   1. a similar vocal organ in other mammals.
   2. a corresponding structure in certain lower animals.

larynx

/ ˈlærɪŋks /

noun

1. a cartilaginous and muscular hollow organ forming part of the air passage to the lungs: in higher vertebrates it contains the vocal cords

larynx

/ lăr′ĭngks /

, Plural larynges lə-rĭn′jēz

1. 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.
2. Also called voice box

larynx

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of larynx¹

1570–80; < New Latin < Greek lárynx

Word History and Origins

Origin of larynx¹

C16: from New Latin larynx, from Greek larunx

Example Sentences

She and her collaborators manipulated the cartilage of the larynx, or voicebox, to see how it might move during swallowing.

From Popular-Science

The students, now on their feet, tested the limits of their larynxes.

From Washington Post

The key to this superpower is the position of a baby’s larynx, the muscular organ that serves as the airway to the lungs and holds our vocal cords.

From Popular-Science

But, in the process of developing an adult vocal cord and larynx, we lose the expert chugging ability that newborns have.

From Popular-Science

Somewhere between three and six months, the larynx descends to a lower position, allowing for the possibility of speech.

From Popular-Science

So the most direct route from the brain to the larynx was now not south of that artery.

From The Daily Beast

The bullet tore through my voice box and larynx before lodging itself in my trapezius.

From The Daily Beast

Showing diplomatic grace after the incident, she joked: “I broke my elbow, not my larynx.”

From The Daily Beast

When the quantity is very small there may be no cough, the sputum reaching the larynx by action of the bronchial cilia.

From Project Gutenberg

Take the scalpel and sever the spinal column without cutting the larynx.

From Project Gutenberg

Illustrations of the appearance of the larynx during phonation in two special cases.

From Project Gutenberg

In the lower illustration we have the appearances presented in a man affected with tuberculosis of the lungs and larynx.

From Project Gutenberg

Such are the appearances presented under the microscope by skeletal or striped muscles such as those of the larynx.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• esophagus