Arytenoid
Interarytenoid · Head & throat
Deep muscle — it lies under other muscles. X-ray makes the muscles over it see-through.
- Origin
- Back of one arytenoid cartilage
- Insertion
- Transverse part: back of the opposite arytenoid cartilage; oblique part: tip of the opposite arytenoid, with some fibres continuing to the epiglottis (aryepiglotticus)
- Action
- Draws the arytenoid cartilages together, closing the back of the glottis; the aryepiglottic fibres help narrow the entrance of the larynx
- Nerve supply
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve (CN X)
The muscle bridging the two arytenoid cartilages at the back of the larynx, with transverse and crossing oblique fibres. It closes the rear of the glottis, and its oblique fibres help close the entrance of the larynx in swallowing.
Arytenoid anatomy page →