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# Lateral cricoarytenoid

The lateral cricoarytenoid is a small muscle on the side of the larynx; it brings the vocal folds together for speaking.

Official name: Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

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## What it is

A small muscle on the side of the cricoid.

## What it does

Brings the vocal folds together.

## Key points

- Main adductor: pulls the muscular process forward, rotating the arytenoid so the vocal processes swing together; direct antagonist of the posterior cricoarytenoid
- With the [arytenoid muscles](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/transverse-arytenoid-muscle/) and the thyroarytenoid it closes the glottis for voice, cough and straining, all supplied by the [recurrent laryngeal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/recurrent-laryngeal-nerve/)
- Arytenoid adduction surgery reproduces its pull with a suture on the muscular process to bring a paralysed [vocal fold](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/vocal-fold/) to the midline

## Key facts

**Origin**
Arch of the cricoid

**Insertion**
Muscular process of the arytenoid

**Action**
Adducts the vocal folds

**Nerve**
Recurrent laryngeal nerve (X)

**Blood supply**
Laryngeal arteries

## Relations

**Lateral**
Lamina of the [thyroid cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thyroid-cartilage/), which covers it

**Medial**
Conus elasticus and the mucosa of the subglottic airway

**Above**
[Thyroarytenoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/musculus-thyreoarytenoideus/), which lies just above it and blends with its fibres

**Behind**
Muscular process of the [arytenoid cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/arytenoid-cartilage/) and, behind it, the [posterior cricoarytenoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/musculus-cricoarytenoideus-posterior/)

## How to find it

Not palpable; it lies deep to the thyroid lamina. In surgery it is reached by lifting the back edge of the thyroid lamina or through a window cut in it (thyroplasty).

## Examination

- Laryngoscopy on a sustained vowel: the folds should meet in the midline; a gap with a still fold suggests recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

## On imaging

Too small to assess well on routine imaging. It lies in the paraglottic space beside the cricoid and the arytenoid's muscular process, so CT and MRI judge that space; tumour spread into the paraglottic fat is a key staging point. In recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, CT shows a thin, flat fold with a wider ventricle and piriform sinus on that side; laryngoscopy shows the fold does not close.

## Clinical notes

- Weak adduction gives a breathy voice and a weak cough, with a risk of aspiration when swallowing
- Medialisation thyroplasty, injection of filler into the fold and arytenoid adduction are the main ways of making up for its loss
- In adductor spasmodic dysphonia, botulinum toxin is aimed at the thyroarytenoid–lateral cricoarytenoid complex, weakening both adductors together

## Development

Develops from sixth-arch mesoderm, like the posterior cricoarytenoid, hence its supply by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is the action of the lateral cricoarytenoid?

Main adductor: it pulls the muscular process of the arytenoid forward so the vocal processes swing together; antagonist of the posterior cricoarytenoid.

## What nerve supplies the lateral cricoarytenoid?

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (X), like the other glottic closers.

## What does weakness of the lateral cricoarytenoid cause?

A breathy voice and a weak cough, with a risk of aspiration when swallowing.

## Which surgery reproduces the pull of the lateral cricoarytenoid on a paralysed vocal fold?

Arytenoid adduction: a suture on the muscular process brings the fold to the midline.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Músculo cricoaritenoideo lateral DeCS D007821

**English (TA2)**
Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

## Related

- [Recurrent laryngeal nerves](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/recurrent-laryngeal-nerve/)

Sources: [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=7999&filter=ths_termall&q=Laryngeal%20Muscles); [Anatomy, Head and Neck: Cervical, Respiratory, Larynx, and Cricoarytenoid](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538307/); [Anatomy, Head and Neck: Laryngeal Muscles](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545265/).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-cricoarytenoid-muscle/