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Pharyngeal and Laryngeal Anatomy:
A 90 Second Crash Course

Tim Stockdale, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Some important laryngeal and pharyngeal anatomy as it applies to deglutition/swallowing:

This video is a superior view, like you'd see when doing a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

Start by orienting with the true vocal folds-- together, they point anteriorly, toward the patient's face.

 

Then move up/superiorly to false vocal folds (vestibular / ventricular), which cover much of the true vocal folds. 

 

Continue to the aryepiglottic folds (think ARY, as in ARYtenoids, and EPI, as as in EPIglottis).

Distinguish between the lower respiratory tract (below the true vocal folds) and upper respiratory tract (above the true vocal folds).

Also, use landmarks to anchor yourself, such as the valleculae and pyriform sinuses.

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