Vocal and other influences upon mankind, from pendency of the epiglottis / by Sir George Duncan Gibb.

  • Gibb, Sir George Duncan, 1821-1876.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vocal and other influences upon mankind, from pendency of the epiglottis / by Sir George Duncan Gibb. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    epiglottis, so tliat every one who is not acquainted with the anatomy of this part of the body, may understand what is meant by pendency of the epiglottis. 2. At the root of the tongue, behind its base, is seen a tri- angular or oval-shaped cartilage, compared to a cordate leaf, with its edges curved or curled forwards, standing in an erect or 'perpendicidar posit ion. It is of a pale yellow or buff colour, notun- like the crust of a loaf of bread, and it plays a most important part in relation to theactof swallowing; from its situation it lies above and in front of the upper part of the larynx, a cartilaginous box existing on the top of the windpipe and readily felt in the neck. As the epiglottis is extremely flexible and elastic it is depressed in the act of swallowing,covers the larynx, allows the food to pass over it, and rapidly elevates itself into its erect position; by this means neither food nor any other substance can gain entrance to the windpipe. During the act of swallowing the tongue is drawn backwards and the larynx raised forwards, the glottis immediately closes, with its regulators, the epiglottis becomes pendent or depressed, and the contents of the mouth pass over it into the pharynx, or pouch at the back of the throat, leading to the gullet or oesophagus. The epiglottis is attached by means of a pedicle to the inside of the Pomum Adami, or Adam’s apple, felt in the neck, and is likewise attached to the base of the tongue, the os hyoides or tongue bone, and the larynx, by means of folds of mucous membrane, receiving various names from the pai’ts they serve to connect. Only one half of the cartilage is free, and for convenience I would compare it to a little tongue situated behind the larger tongue, but pointing upwards instead of forwards. As described, it will be understood that the epig’lottis should be quite erect or vertical, which moreover allows the top of the windpipe to be freely open for the purposes of comfortable breathing. All the older anatomists were correct in describing the cartilage as vertical, and I am quite willing to admit that that is its natural and proper position. 3. Having said thus much we are now prepared to understand what is meant by pend.ency of the cartilage, and I will explain what that is, how it was discovered, and the influence it exerts