Vocal Cord Muscles

Question 1

Cricothyroid

Answer 1

Origin: anterior cricoid cartilage

Insertion: inferior border of thyroid cartilage and its inferior horn

Innervation: external branch of superior laryngeal nerve

Blood Supply: superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Action: lengthens and tenses vocal ligaments

Question 2

Posterior Crico-Arytenoid

Answer 2

Origin: posterior surface of lamina of cricoid cartilage

Insertion: muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Innervation: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Blood Supply: superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Action: abducts vocal folds

Question 3

Transverse and Oblique Arytenoid

Answer 3

Origin: arytenoid cartilage

Insertion: opposite arytenoid cartilage

Innervation: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Blood Supply: superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Action: closes intercartiliginous portion of rima glottides

Question 4

Thyro-Arytenoid

Answer 4

Origin: posterior aspect of thyroid cartilage

Insertion: muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Innervation: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Blood Supply: superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Action: shortens and relaxes vocal cords and sphincter of vestibule

Question 5

Lateral Crico-Arytenoid

Answer 5

Origin: arch of cricoid cartilage

Insertion: muscular process of arytenoid cartilage

Innervation: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Blood Supply: superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Action: adducts vocal cords