Thyroarytenoid muscle

Thyroarytenoid muscle is a broad, thin muscle that forms the body of the vocal fold and that supports the wall of the ventricle and its appendix. It functions to relax the vocal folds.

Anatomy

The Thyroarytenoid muscle originates from the lower margin of the thyroid cartilage and the adjacent cricothyroid ligament and inserts into the base and anterior surface of the arytenoid cartilage.

The muscle is divided into two parts. The lower and larger part is the vocalis muscle, which extends from the vocal ligament to the vocal process of the arytenoid. The upper and smaller part is the muscle of the ventricle, which extends from the thyroid cartilage just above the vocal ligament to the anterior surface of the arytenoid.

Function

The Thyroarytenoid muscle functions to relax the vocal folds. When the muscle contracts, it pulls the arytenoid cartilage forward towards the thyroid, which relaxes the vocal folds and decreases the pitch of the voice.

Clinical significance

Damage to the Thyroarytenoid muscle can result in a variety of voice disorders, including hoarseness, voice fatigue, and vocal fold paralysis. Treatment options include voice therapy, surgery, and in some cases, botulinum toxin injections.

See also

• Vocal fold
• Arytenoid cartilage
• Thyroid cartilage
• Vocalis muscle
• Muscle of the ventricle

References

• 
  Thyroarytenoid muscle diagram
• 
  Anatomy of the larynx
• Vocalis muscle
  Vocalis muscle