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The cricothyroid muscle is an intrinsic muscle of the larynx, also known as the 'singer's muscle' due to its role in altering the tone of voice and creating forceful speech. It is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck, between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages of the larynx. The main function of the cricothyroid muscle is to facilitate vocalization by stretching, lengthening, and tightening the vocal folds, resulting in higher-pitched sounds during vocalization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Muscle in the larynx |
| Location | Deep in the anterior compartment of the neck |
| Function | Facilitates vocalization by controlling the tension of the vocal cords |
| Innervation | External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, which is part of the vagus nerve system |
| Blood Supply | Cricothyroid artery, a branch of the superior thyroid artery |
| Attachments | Originates from the anterolateral aspect of the cricoid cartilage and attaches to the inferior margin and inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage |
| Effect on Vocal Folds | Lengthens, tightens and thins the vocal folds, resulting in higher-pitched sounds during vocalization |
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What You'll Learn
The cricothyroid muscle is a laryngeal muscle
The main function of the cricothyroid muscle is to facilitate vocalization by controlling the tension of the vocal cords. When the cricothyroid muscle contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage downward and forward, causing rotation about the cricothyroid joint. This movement increases the distance between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages, stretching, lengthening, and tightening the vocal folds. As the vocal folds lengthen and become stiffer, the fundamental frequency of vocal fold vibration increases, resulting in a higher-pitched sound during vocalization.
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, which is part of the vagus nerve system. The cricothyroid artery, a branch of the superior thyroid artery, provides arterial supply to the cricothyroid muscle. This muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" due to its role in altering the tone of voice and creating forceful speech.
The cricothyroid muscle can be injured during a cricothyroidotomy, an emergency surgical procedure to establish a patent airway when other methods are contraindicated. Understanding the anatomy and function of the cricothyroid muscle is crucial for maintaining vocal health and treating various voice disorders.
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It facilitates vocalization
The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles, accompanied by six other muscles. The main function of the cricothyroid muscle is to facilitate vocalization.
The cricothyroid muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" because it alters the tone of voice and creates forceful speech. This short muscle resides deep in the anterior neck, between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages of the larynx. It originates from the anterolateral part of the arch of the cricoid cartilage. The muscle fibres then separate to travel in two groups—oblique and straight. The inferiorly located oblique part travels posterolaterally to insert onto the inferior horn (cornu) of the thyroid cartilage. The straight part travels posterosuperiorly, taking a sharper incline than the fibres of the oblique part, to insert onto the inferior margin of the lamina of the thyroid cartilage.
The cricothyroid muscle controls the tension of the vocal cords. When the cricothyroid muscle contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage downward and anteriorly, causing rotation about the cricothyroid joint. This narrows the space between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, and moves the thyroid cartilage away from the arytenoid cartilage. Consequently, there is stretching (lengthening), tightening and thinning of the vocal folds. Tighter, longer vocal folds produce higher-pitched sounds during vocalization.
The vocal folds (vocal cords) are remarkable structures that provide a valve for the airway and also vibrate to produce the voice. The vocal folds are multilayered structures, consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering. The glottis is the space between the two vocal folds. When the vocal folds adduct, the glottis closes; when the vocal folds abduct, the glottis opens.
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It controls the tension of the vocal cords
The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles, and its main function is to facilitate vocalization.
The cricothyroid muscle controls the tension of the vocal cords. When the muscle contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage downward and forward, causing it to rotate about the cricothyroid joint. This movement increases the distance between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages, stretching, lengthening, and tightening the vocal cords. As the vocal cords lengthen and become stiffer, the fundamental frequency of vocal fold vibration increases, resulting in a higher-pitched sound during vocalization.
The cricothyroid muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" because it enables individuals to alter their tone of voice and create forceful speech. The muscle works by stretching and tensing the vocal ligaments, which are multilayered structures consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering.
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, which is part of the vagus nerve system. This nerve provides motor innervation to the muscle, allowing it to contract and relax, thereby controlling the tension of the vocal cords.
The function of the cricothyroid muscle in vocalization is important in both speaking and singing, allowing individuals to produce a range of pitches and tones in their voices.
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It is supplied arterial blood by the cricothyroid artery
The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which facilitate vocalisation. The main function of the cricothyroid muscle is to lengthen and tighten the vocal folds, thereby increasing the fundamental frequency of vocal fold vibration and producing a higher-pitched sound. The cricothyroid muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" because of its role in altering the tone of voice and creating forceful speech.
The cricothyroid muscle receives its arterial blood supply from the cricothyroid artery, which is a branch of the superior thyroid artery. The superior thyroid artery, in turn, arises from the external carotid artery. The cricothyroid artery approaches the muscle from a superolateral angle, crossing superiorly on the anterior cricothyroid ligament to meet with its contralateral counterpart. This arterial supply provides the necessary oxygenated blood flow to the cricothyroid muscle, ensuring its proper function and health.
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, which is a part of the vagus nerve system. This nerve provides motor innervation to the muscle, allowing it to contract and relax as needed during vocalisation and other functions. The vagus nerve leaves the brain via the vagal roots and provides innervation to the cricothyroid muscle specifically through its external branch.
The cricothyroid muscle is located between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages of the larynx. It originates from the anterolateral part of the arch of the cricoid cartilage and inserts into the inside of the thyroid cartilage. The muscle fibres separate into two groups: the oblique and the straight. The oblique part travels inferiorly and inserts onto the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage, while the straight part takes a sharper incline and inserts onto the inferior margin of the thyroid lamina.
In summary, the cricothyroid muscle is a crucial component of the larynx, facilitating vocalisation and altering the pitch of the voice through its effects on the vocal folds. It receives its arterial blood supply from the cricothyroid artery, ensuring adequate oxygenated blood flow to support its functions. The muscle's innervation by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve further enables its role in vocalisation and speech production.
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It may be injured during a cricothyroidotomy
The cricothyroid muscle is a laryngeal muscle that facilitates vocalization, allowing us to speak and sing. It is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles, accompanied by six other muscles.
The main function of the cricothyroid muscle is to facilitate vocalization by producing tension and elongation of the vocal cords. When the cricothyroid muscle contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage downward and anteriorly, causing rotation about the cricothyroid joint. This narrows the space between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, and moves the thyroid cartilage away from the arytenoid cartilage. Consequently, there is stretching (lengthening), tightening, and thinning of the vocal folds. Tighter, longer vocal folds produce higher-pitched sounds during vocalization.
Cricothyroidotomy is an emergency surgical procedure used to establish a patent airway when other methods are contraindicated. It is generally performed as an emergent procedure for upper-airway obstruction when intubation is either contraindicated or has failed. This procedure may also be used when access to the tracheal rings is limited (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, achondroplasia) or when neck extension is contraindicated. During the procedure, a surgical incision is made anteriorly through the cricothyroid ligament, between the base of the thyroid cartilage and the superior margin of the cricoid cartilage.
The cricothyroid muscle may be injured during a cricothyroidotomy. The anterior jugular veins, the cricothyroid muscle, and the superior laryngeal nerves are at risk during the procedure. Some surgeons use a midline vertical skin incision to minimize inadvertent injury to these structures. In such cases, the soft tissues of the neck are retracted laterally until the cricothyroid membrane is identified and horizontally incised. Additionally, the needle length used during the procedure has been associated with posterior tracheal wall injury. The force applied to the needle can result in displacement of the anterior wall toward the posterior wall, potentially causing injury.
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Frequently asked questions
The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx.
The cricothyroid muscle facilitates vocalization, allowing you to speak and sing. It does this by stretching and tensing the vocal ligaments, which lengthens and tightens the vocal folds, resulting in higher-pitched sounds during vocalization.
The cricothyroid muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" because it alters the tone of voice. When the muscle contracts, it pulls the thyroid cartilage downward and forward, increasing the distance between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages. This lengthens and tightens the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate faster and produce higher-pitched sounds.
In emergency situations where a patient requires an airway, a surgeon may perform a cricothyroidotomy or tracheotomy. These procedures involve making an incision through the cricothyroid ligament and cartilage to establish a patent airway. The cricothyroid muscle may also be injected with botulinum toxin during the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia.
