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Laryngeal ventricle

The laryngeal ventricle, also known as the ventricle of Morgagni, is a small mucosal recess located between the false vocal cords (vestibular folds) and the true vocal cords within the larynx. It communicates anteriorly with the laryngeal cavity and plays a key role in voice modulation and mucus secretion for vocal cord lubrication. Understanding its anatomy and imaging characteristics is essential for radiologists, otolaryngologists, and speech specialists for evaluation of laryngeal pathology such as cysts, tumors, or inflammation.

Synonyms

  • Ventricle of Morgagni

  • Laryngeal sinus

  • Supraglottic ventricle

  • Laryngeal cavity recess

Function

  • Provides a mucosal recess for lubrication of the vocal cords via seromucous glands

  • Plays a minor role in voice resonance and modulation

  • Acts as a potential space for pathological expansion (e.g., cysts or tumors)

  • Facilitates airflow distribution within the supraglottic larynx

MRI Appearance
T1-weighted images:

  • Laryngeal ventricle appears as a small, low-signal mucosal space between true and false vocal cords

  • Surrounded by high-signal fat and soft tissue of the laryngeal framework

  • Pathology like cysts or tumors may appear hyperintense after contrast administration

T2-weighted images:

  • Ventricular space appears hyperintense due to fluid or mucus content

  • Useful for identifying laryngeal cysts, edema, or inflammatory changes

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses fat signal, highlighting edema or fluid within the ventricle

  • Normal ventricle remains low signal; pathological fluid accumulation appears hyperintense

CT Appearance

  • Laryngeal ventricle appears as a soft tissue density recess between vestibular and true vocal cords

  • Surrounding thyroid cartilage and laryngeal framework are well visualized

  • CT is useful to detect mass effect, calcifications, or structural deformities

MRI images

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