Diseases of the larynx are of concern not only for ear, nose, and throat physicians and phoniatricians but also for other clinicians who treat the larynx either conservatively or surgically, including speech therapists, pediatricians, anesthetists, oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, and general practitioners. Based on today's state of knowledge and taking into account our own research results of the last years as well as clinical points of view, the present contribution gives a short overview of the anatomy and physiology of the larynx. Part 2 discusses the functional anatomy of the laryngeal mucous membrane (glycoconjugates, mucins, trefoil factor family peptides, antimicrobial substances, larynx-associated lymphoid tissue), the vascular supply, innervation, and lymphatic drainage, as well as age-related laryngeal changes and their effects on swallowing, breathing, and phonation.
