Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

Posterior cricoarytenoid

Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.
Details
Latin Musculus cricoarytaenoideus posterior
posterior part of the cricoid
muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage
recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus
Actions abducts and laterally rotates the cartilage, pulling the vocal ligaments away from the midline and forward and so opening the rima glottidis
Antagonist
 Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
Identifiers
Gray's p.1082
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 m_22/12548696
TA A06.2.08.004
FMA 46576
Anatomical terms of muscle

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscles are extremely small, paired muscles that extend from the posterior cricoid cartilage to the arytenoid cartilages in the larynx.

Structure

Innervation

The posterior cricoarytenoid muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve.[1] :10

Function

The cricoarytenoid muscles are the only muscles to open the vocal cords. By rotating the arytenoid cartilages laterally, these muscles abduct the vocal cords and thereby open the rima glottidis.[1] :9 Their action opposes the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles.

Clinical significance

Paralysis of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles may lead to asphyxiation as they are the only laryngeal muscles to open the true vocal cords, allowing inspiration and expiration.[2]

Additional images

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle.
This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see anatomical terminology.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hydman, Jonas (2008). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Stockholm. ISBN 978-91-7409-123-6.
  2. ↑ The Arytenoid Cartilages - a clinical overview. 2002, Dr. C Kay et al. Thorne Publishing (C)

External links