Muscle · Neck

Lateral cricoarytenoid

Musculus cricoarytenoideus lateralis

A small muscle on the side of the larynx running back and up from the upper edge of the cricoid ring to the outward-pointing process of the arytenoid cartilage. Pulling that process forwards and down swings the arytenoid inwards, which carries the back end of the vocal fold towards the midline and closes the front, membranous part of the gap between the folds. It is the principal closer of the glottis: it sets the folds against one another so that air passing between them can be made to vibrate, and it is part of the closure that seals the airway when the trunk is braced against a heavy effort.