Cricothyroid muscle

Cricothyroid muscle

Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.

The ligaments of the larynx. Antero-lateral view.
Details
Latin Musculus cricothyreoideus
Anterior and lateral cricoid cartilage
Inferior cornu and lamina of the thyroid cartilage
external laryngeal branch of the vagus
Actions tension and elongation of the vocal folds
Identifiers
Gray's p.1081
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 m_22/12548712
TA A06.2.08.001
FMA 46417
Anatomical terms of muscle

The cricothyroid muscle is the only tensor muscle of the larynx aiding with phonation. It attaches to the anterolateral aspect of the cricoid and the inferior cornu and lower lamina of the thyroid cartilage, and its action tilts the thyroid forward to help tense the vocal cords. Not to be confused with the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, which are the only muscles directly responsible for opening (abducting) the space between the vocal cords to allow for sound production.

Action

The cricothyroid muscle produces tension and elongation of the vocal folds by drawing up the arch of the cricoid cartilage and tilting back the upper border of the cricoid cartilage lamina; the distance between the vocal processes and the angle of the thyroid is thus increased, and the folds are consequently elongated, resulting in higher pitch phonation.

Innervation

This muscle is the only laryngeal muscle supplied by the branch of the vagus nerve known as the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (rather than the recurrent laryngeal nerve).

Additional images

See also

External links