Corpus: Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle is a muscle that is part of the internal laryngeal musculature.

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle originates from the arch of the cricoid cartilage (cartilago cricoidea) and attaches to the muscular process (processus muscularis) of the arytenoid cartilage (cartilago arytaenoidea).

The muscle is innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve, which is a branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle functions by rotating the arytenoid cartilage inward, bringing the tips of the vocal processes closer together. This action narrows the membranous part (pars intermembranacea) of the glottis, thereby playing a key role in controlling the tension and position of the vocal cords.