Cricothyroid muscle

Cricothyroid muscle
Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.
The ligaments of the larynx. Antero-lateral view.
Details
Origin	Anterior and lateral cricoid cartilage
Insertion	Inferior cornu and lamina of the thyroid cartilage
Nerve	external laryngeal branch of the vagus
Actions	tension and elongation of the vocal folds
Identifiers
Latin	Musculus cricothyreoideus
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 respiration.

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.

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

The veins of the thyroid gland.

The fascia and middle thyroid veins.

Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.