Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
Musculus cricoarytendoideus lateralis
- Latin synonym: Musculus cricoarytaenoideus lateralis
- Related terms: Lateral cricoarytenoid
Definition
Origin: Lateral part of the arch of the cricoid
Insertion: Muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage
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
Description:
The Cricoarytaenoideus lateralis (lateral cricoarytenoid) is smaller than the preceding, and of an oblong form. It arises from the upper border of the arch of the cricoid cartilage, and, passing obliquely upward and backward, is inserted into the front of the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
