Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
The lateral cricoarytenoid (also anterior cricoarytenoid) muscles extend from the lateral cricoid cartilage to the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage. By rotating the arytenoid cartilages medially, these muscles adduct the vocal cords and thereby close the rima glottidis, protecting the airway. (Their action is antagonistic to that of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.) The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X).
| Lateral cricoarytenoid | |
|---|---|
 Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed. | |
| Details | |
| Origin | lateral part of the arch of the cricoid |
| Insertion | muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage |
| Nerve | recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus |
| Actions | adduct and medially rotate the cartilage, pulling the vocal ligaments towards the midline and backwards and so closing off the rima glottidis |
| Antagonist | Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Musculus cricoarytaenoideus lateralis |
| TA98 | A06.2.08.006 |
| TA2 | 2198 |
| FMA | 46579 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Additional images
Muscles of the larynx, seen from above.
See also
External links
- Atlas image: rsa4p3 at the University of Michigan Health System
- lesson11 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (larynxlatcricoary)
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