biology

Rima glottidis

Rima glottidis is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Rima glottidis rather than just read about it. In short: The rima glottidis is the opening between the two true vocal cords anteriorly, and the two arytenoid cartilages posteriorly. It is part of the larynx.

Key takeaways

Rima glottidis belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Rima glottidis to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Rima glottidis from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The rima glottidis is the opening between the two true vocal cords anteriorly, and the two arytenoid cartilages posteriorly. It is part of the larynx.

Anatomy The rima glottidis is the narrowest part of larynx. It is longer (~23 mm) in males than in females (17–18 mm). The rima glottidis is an aperture between the two true vocal cords anteriorly, and the bases and vocal process of the two arytenoid cartilages posteriorly. It is therefore described as subdivided into two parts: the larger anterior part between the vocal folds (intermembranous part, or glottis vocalis), and the smaller posterior part between arytenoid cartilages (intercartilaginous part, glottis respiratoria, intercartilaginous glottis, respiratory glottis, or interarytenoid space). It is limited posteriorly by an interarytenoid fold of mucous membrane.

Function The rima glottidis is closed by the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles and the arytenoid muscle, and opened by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. All of these muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal nerve which is a branch of the vagus nerve (CN X). The shape of rima glottidis is changed by movements of vocal cords and arytenoid cartilages during respiration and phonation.

Clinical significance Any damage to the rima glottidis may result in a hoarse voice, aphonia or difficulty breathing.

References

External links Anatomy photo:32:st-1300 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Rima glottidis

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Rima glottidis claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Rima glottidis before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Rima glottidis ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Rima glottidis

In research: Rima glottidis appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Rima glottidis in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Rima glottidis is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Anatomy stubs, Human head and neck, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Rima glottidis outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Rima glottidis in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Rima glottidis means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Rima glottidis out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rima glottidis in simple terms?

The rima glottidis is the opening between the two true vocal cords anteriorly, and the two arytenoid cartilages posteriorly. It is part of the larynx.

Why does Rima glottidis matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Rima glottidis?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Rima glottidis.