The normal magnetic resonance (MR) anatomy of the larynx at high field strength (1.5 T) was studied in 2 normal excised larynges and 62 subjects without laryngopharyngeal disease. The two normal excised larynges were imaged using a 1.5 T MR scanner with a 3 in diameter circular surface coil and a GE 9800 CT scanner. The larynges were sectioned transversely and the MR and CT images compared to gross and histologic sections. Unossified hyaline cartilage was intermediate in signal intensity on T1-weighted and proton density images and low in intensity on T2-weighted images. The signal intensity from ossified cartilage was determined by the amount of fatty marrow and was high in intensity on T1-weighted and proton density images and low to intermediate in intensity on T2-weighted images. A chemical shift artifact from high intensity fatty marrow obscured the calcified or ossified cortex of the major laryngeal cartilages along the frequency encoding axis. The epiglottic cartilage demonstrated an intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and higher intensity on proton density and T2-weighted images. The intralaryngeal muscles were well demonstrated as low intensity structures. The conus elasticus and the vocal ligaments were not recognized as distinct structures. However, the quadrangular membrane and a previously undescribed membrane separating the preepiglottic and paralaryngeal spaces were shown on MR as low intensity linear structures. In the 62 subjects, MR at 1.5 T proved excellent for demonstrating the anatomical details of the major laryngeal cartilages, extra- and intralaryngeal muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues including the vocal cords, false vocal cords, laryngeal ventricles, aryepiglottic folds, preepiglottic space, and paralaryngeal spaces. Visibility and intensity of muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues did not depend on age or sex. The intensity pattern of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages demonstrated wide variations in the same sex and age groups, depending on the degree of ossification. However, they did show more high intensity foci in older men than in younger women. Magnetic resonance showed better contrast resolution and finer detail than CT scans in the same subjects. Magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T, with either a saddle-shaped neck surface coil or a 3 in diameter circular surface coil, provides high contrast and high spatial resolution images and could be useful for the diagnosis of lesions of the larynx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)