Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
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| Lateral cricoarytenoid | ||
|---|---|---|
| Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed. | ||
| Latin | Cricoarytænoideus lateralis | |
| Gray's | subject #236 1082 | |
| Origin: | lateral part of the arch of the cricoid | |
| Insertion: | muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage | |
| Blood: | ||
| Nerve: | recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus | |
| Action: | adduct and medially rotate the cartilage, pulling the vocal ligaments towards the midline and backwards and so closing off the rima glottidis | |
The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles allow the rima glottidis to be closed, protecting the airway; they therefore have the opposite effect to the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.
[edit] Additional images
Muscles of the larynx, seen from above. |
