The corniculate cartilages (cartilages of Santorini) are two small conical nodules in the
larynx
The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ (anatomy), organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal ...
, consisting of elastic
cartilage
Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. Semi-transparent and non-porous, it is usually covered by a tough and fibrous membrane called perichondrium. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints ...
, which articulate with the summits of the
arytenoid cartilages and serve to prolong them posteriorly and medially.
They are situated in the posterior parts of the
aryepiglottic folds of
mucous membrane
A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It ...
, and are sometimes fused with the
arytenoid cartilages.
Eponym
It is named by
Giovanni Domenico Santorini. The word "corniculate" has the Latin root "cornu", meaning "horn". This refers to the appearance of the corniculate cartilages as horn-like projections.
Additional images
File:Gray950.png, The cartilages of the larynx. Posterior view.
File:Gray956.png, Laryngoscopic view of interior of larynx.
File:Gray958.png, Muscles of larynx. Posterior view.
File:Gray959.png, Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.
File:Slide6vvv.JPG, Corniculate cartilages
References
External links
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Human head and neck
Respiratory system anatomy