Paraglottic space

The paraglottic space is a fat-containing space located on either side of the larynx.

Gross anatomy

Boundaries and/or relations

• laterally: thyroid cartilage
• superomedially: pre-epiglottic space
• inferomedially: conus elasticus
• posteriorly: pyriform sinus

The space surrounds the laryngeal ventricle.

Related pathology

• squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
  • The paraglottic space offers a submucosal pathway through which transglottic spread of tumor occurs (crossing the ventricle to involve both the false vocal cords in the supraglottis and the true vocal cords in the glottis)
• laryngocele