23316 Largest and most superior of the cartilages is the thyroid cartilage or Adam's Apple. Most inferior cartilage is the unpaired cricoid cartilage which forms the base of the larynx on which the others rest. Third unpaired cartilage is the epiglottis . Consists of elastic cartilage rather than hyaline. During swallowing the epiglottis covers the opening of the larynx and prevents material from entering the larynx.
Superior pair forms the vestibular folds or false vocal cords.
When the vestibular folds come together, they prevent air from coming from the lungs and prevent food and liquids from entering the larynx. Inferior pair of ligaments form the vocal cords or true vocal cords. The true vocal cords and the opening between them is called the glottis . The vestibular folds and the vocal cords are lined with stratified squamous epithelium. Remainder of the larynx is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.