Oblique part of cricothyroid muscle

Pars obliqua musculi cricothyreoidei

  • Related terms: Oblique part

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The oblique part of cricothyroid muscle (pars obliqua) is the lateral and obliquely oriented portion of the muscle. It arises from the anterolateral surface of the cricoid cartilage, just inferior and lateral to the straight part, and runs upward and outward to insert into the inferior horn (cornu) of the thyroid cartilage.

Action

Acting together with the straight part (pars recta), it produces anterior and inferior tilting of the thyroid cartilage at the cricothyroid joint, which stretches and tenses the vocal folds, thereby increasing the pitch of the voice.

References

  • Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier. Chapter 35: Larynx, pp. 597.

  • Hoerter JE, Fakoya AO, Chandran SK. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Laryngeal Muscles. [Updated 2024 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545265/

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