Muscle · Neck

Aryepiglottic

Musculus aryepiglotticus

The continuation of the oblique arytenoid beyond the tip of the arytenoid cartilage, running forward inside the ridge of mucosa that sweeps from the arytenoid to the side of the epiglottis. That ridge forms the upper rim of the entrance to the larynx, so this muscle acts as a purse-string on the doorway of the airway: contracting it draws the rim inwards and narrows the inlet. It works with the tipping of the epiglottis and the upward travel of the whole larynx to keep swallowed material out of the airway, and its action is a narrowing of an opening rather than a movement at any joint.