Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle


The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles extend from the lateral cricoid cartilage to the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage. By rotating the arytenoid cartilages medially, these muscles adduct the vocal cords and thereby close the rima glottidis, protecting the airway. The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve.

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