Cricothyroid muscle

Cricothyroid muscle
Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.
The ligaments of the larynx. Antero-lateral view.
Latin	musculus cricothyroideus
Gray's	subject #236 1081
Origin	Anterior and lateral cricoid cartilage
Insertion	Inferior cornu and lamina of the thyroid cartilage
Artery
Nerve	external laryngeal branch of the vagus
Action	tension and elongation of the vocal folds

The cricothyroid muscle attaches to the anterolateral aspect of the cricoid and the inferior cornu and lower lamina of the thyroid cartilage, tilting the thyroid forwards and tensing the vocal cords. It is the only laryngeal muscle supplied by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (rather than the recurrent laryngeal nerve).

[edit] 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 thyroid 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.

[edit] Innervation

This muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

[edit] Additional images

The veins of the thyroid gland.

The fascia and middle thyroid veins.

Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.

[edit] See also

• Cricothyroid ligament
• Larynx
• vocal fold
• Thyroid cartilage
• Vocology - science and practice of voice habilitation
• Adam's apple
• Phonation
• National Center for Voice and Speech
• Cricothyroid approximation

[edit] External links

• -717946803 at GPnotebook
• Cricothyroid+muscle at eMedicine Dictionary

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