Muscle · Neck

Vocalis

Musculus vocalis

The deepest, most medial band of the thyroarytenoid, lying immediately alongside the vocal ligament inside the free edge of the vocal fold — nearer to the vibrating margin than any other muscle in the body of the larynx. Many of its fibres attach along the length of the ligament rather than only at its ends, which means it can tighten one part of the fold while leaving another slack. That is the anatomical basis for fine control of the voice: it makes small local adjustments to the tension and stiffness of the vibrating edge, on top of the coarse lengthening and shortening produced by the cricothyroid and the rest of the thyroarytenoid.