Larynx (definition of)
The larynx, or vocal folds, is an organ in the throat made up of muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue. It consists of four parts:
- Cartilage known colloquially as the "Adam's Apple"
- The supraglottis, or top of the vocal folds
- The glottis, which is the central area
- The subglottis, which forms the bottom of this structure
The larynx is the source of sound production and also prevents food and water from entering the trachea (windpipe).
People at high risk for laryngeal cancer are men over 55 who have a history of smoking and heavy alcohol consumption in addition to asbestos exposure. Asbestos has also been associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma. Symptoms include:
- hoarseness
- chronic sore throat
- chronic ear ache
- breathing difficulty
- unexplained weight loss
- halitosis
Diagnosis is through visual inspection (laryngoscopy), CT scan and/or biopsy.
