Human Larynx

Quick Answer: The human larynx model is an anatomical model of the voice box, the part of the airway between the pharynx and the trachea. It shows the cartilages, the hyoid bone and the vocal folds, and is used to teach how voice is produced and how the airway is protected during swallowing.

The Framework of the Voice Box

The larynx is built from cartilages joined by membranes and muscles. The largest, the shield-shaped thyroid cartilage, forms the laryngeal prominence or Adam’s apple. Below it is the cricoid cartilage, the only complete ring of cartilage in the airway. Sitting on the back of the cricoid are the paired arytenoid cartilages, to which the vocal folds attach, and above the entrance is the leaf-shaped epiglottis. The hyoid bone, suspended above the thyroid cartilage, anchors the whole structure to the tongue and jaw.

Inside, two pairs of folds run from front to back. The upper vestibular folds, or false vocal cords, play little part in speech; the lower true vocal folds vibrate as air passes between them. Muscles that move the arytenoids open the gap between the folds, the rima glottidis, for breathing and bring the folds together for speaking, while tension on the folds sets the pitch. Whether this human larynx model opens or is sectioned to show the folds should be confirmed.

During swallowing, the larynx rises, the epiglottis tips back over the entrance and the vocal folds close, which together keep food out of the airway. The larynx is also where emergency airway skills are taught: the cricothyroid membrane between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages is the site for emergency access when the upper airway is blocked.

Applications

• Teaching how the vocal folds produce sound and change pitch
• Explaining how the airway is protected during swallowing
• Anaesthesia and nursing lessons on intubation landmarks and the cricothyroid membrane
• Speech and language therapy training on voice disorders

Care & Handling

• Handle the model by its base or trachea, keeping fingers off the thin epiglottis.
• Clean with a soft brush and damp cloth; avoid soaking any removable parts.
• Store covered to protect small features from dust and knocks.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Nursing and medical colleges, speech therapy courses and anaesthesia trainers buy a larynx model because the three-dimensional arrangement of the cartilages is hard to learn from pictures. LabEquip lists it with its biology lab products, alongside the functional respiratory system model for the rest of the airway. Ask via the contact page about detail and size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Adam’s apple?

It is the laryngeal prominence, the forward-projecting angle of the thyroid cartilage. It is usually more prominent in adult men because the thyroid cartilage grows larger at puberty.

How do the vocal folds produce sound?

Air pushed up from the lungs passes between the closed vocal folds and makes them vibrate. Changing the tension and length of the folds changes the pitch of the voice.

What is the difference between true and false vocal cords?

The true vocal folds are the lower pair that vibrate to produce voice. The false vocal cords, or vestibular folds, lie above them and mainly help close the airway rather than make sound.

Why is the cricoid cartilage important?

It is the only complete ring of cartilage in the airway and supports the lower larynx. The cricothyroid membrane above it is the site used for emergency airway access.

How does the larynx stop food entering the airway?

During swallowing the larynx is pulled up, the epiglottis folds back over its entrance and the vocal folds close. Coughing clears anything that gets past.

Who uses a larynx model?

It is used in anatomy teaching for nursing and medical students, in speech and language therapy, in anaesthesia and emergency airway training, and in advanced biology.

Last Updated: September 2026