Which cartilage is located at the lowest position of the larynx?

The cricoid cartilage is located at the lowest position of the larynx. It is a ring-shaped structure that forms the base of the laryngeal framework and is situated below the thyroid cartilage and above the trachea. The cricoid cartilage serves as a critical support structure for the airway and is important for maintaining patency during respiration. Its position allows it to serve as an anchoring point for muscles and ligaments that are involved in the movement and function of the vocal cords and surrounding structures.

The other cartilages mentioned have different locations and functions: the thyroid cartilage is located above the cricoid and provides the bulk of the laryngeal framework, the epiglottis is a flap that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway, and the corniculate cartilages are small structures that sit atop the arytenoid cartilages. Understanding these locations and functions highlights the unique role of the cricoid cartilage as the lowest component of the larynx.