Posterior cricoarytenoid
Head & throat
Deep muscle — it lies under other muscles. X-ray makes the muscles over it see-through.
- Origin
- Back surface of the cricoid cartilage plate
- Insertion
- Muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage
- Action
- Opens the glottis by separating the vocal folds
- Nerve supply
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve (CN X)
The only muscle that opens the gap between the vocal folds, so it keeps the airway open for breathing. It lies on the back of the larynx.
Posterior cricoarytenoid anatomy page →