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The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx and is also known as the 'singer's muscle' as it helps in vocalization. The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is innervated by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve also gives sensory innervation to the part of the larynx below the vocal cord.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Innervated by | External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) |
| Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) | |
| Function | Facilitates vocalization |
| Pulls the cricoid cartilage toward the thyroid cartilage | |
| Stretches and lengthens the vocal folds | |
| Increases tension on the vocal folds | |
| Increases pitch of vocalization | |
| Blood supply | Cricothyroid artery |
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![The Anatomy and Physiology of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves 1887 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
- The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
- The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates the endolaryngeal muscles
- The cricothyroid is the only intrinsic muscle of the larynx not supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve
- The recurrent laryngeal nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cord
- The internal laryngeal nerve supplies the area above the vocal cord
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
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 vocalization. The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.
The cricothyroid muscle arises from the oblique line on the lamina of the thyroid cartilage and is inserted into the anterior part of the arch of the cricoid. As it contracts, it approximates the cricoid and thyroid cartilages anteriorly, increasing the distance between the attachments of the cords, and thus lengthening them. This lengthening, along with tightening and thinning, results in higher-pitched sounds during vocalization. The cricothyroid muscle is also known as the "singer's muscle" because it alters the tone of voice and creates forceful speech by stretching and tensing the vocal ligaments.
The classical understanding of the anatomy is that the cricothyroid muscle is innervated solely by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. However, meticulous anatomical studies have found communication between these nerves and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Electromyographic studies have shown that stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve proximal to a certain branch yielded contraction of the cricothyroid muscle and a laryngeal twitch, while stimulation of the same nerve distal to the branch only resulted in a laryngeal twitch. This suggests that extralaryngeal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve innervated the cricothyroid muscle in some patients.
The blood supply to the cricothyroid muscle is derived from the cricothyroid artery, which arises from the superior thyroid artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. The cricothyroid muscle can be injured during a cricothyroidotomy, an emergency surgical procedure used to establish an airway when other methods are contraindicated.
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The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates the endolaryngeal muscles
The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a nerve of the sixth pharyngeal arch. It branches off the vagus nerve, with the left RLN branching at the aortic arch and the right at the right subclavian artery. The left RLN is longer than the right as it crosses under the arch of the aorta.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid muscle. This includes the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, which are the only muscles that can open the vocal folds. The nerves supply muscles on the same side of the body, except for the interarytenoid muscle, which is innervated from both sides. The RLN also carries sensory information from the mucous membranes of the larynx below the lower surface of the vocal fold.
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN). The classical understanding of the anatomy is that the EBSLN innervates the cricothyroid muscle and the RLN covers the endolaryngeal muscles other than the cricothyroid muscle. However, some studies have found that the RLN can innervate the cricothyroid muscle in some patients.
The laryngeal muscles are closely involved in phonation, allowing humans to speak and sing. Injury to the RLN can result in a weakened voice (hoarseness) or loss of voice (aphonia) and cause problems in the respiratory tract.
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The cricothyroid is the only intrinsic muscle of the larynx not supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve
The cricothyroid muscle is a small, bilaterally paired muscle found deep in the anterior compartment of the neck. It is one of the seven intrinsic muscles of the larynx. The muscle facilitates vocalization, allowing humans to speak and sing. The cricothyroid muscle stretches and lengthens the vocal cords, resulting in higher-pitched sounds.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is the only intrinsic muscle of the larynx supplied by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve also provides sensory innervation to the part of the larynx below the vocal cords. The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve.
The classical understanding of the anatomy is that the cricothyroid muscle is innervated solely by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. However, recent studies have revealed cross-innervations among these nerve-muscle sets. Electrical stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve has shown contraction of the cricothyroid muscle in some patients. This phenomenon may influence voice changes following thyroid surgery.
The cricothyroid muscle can be injured during a cricothyroidotomy, an emergency surgical procedure used to establish an airway when other methods are contraindicated. During the procedure, an incision is made anteriorly through the cricothyroid ligament, between the base of the thyroid cartilage and the superior margin of the cricoid cartilage.
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The recurrent laryngeal nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cord
The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) provides sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cord. 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, which facilitate vocalization, allowing us to speak and sing. The cricothyroid muscle pulls the cricoid cartilage towards the thyroid cartilage, stretching the vocal folds and increasing the distance between the vocal processes and the angle of the thyroid. This results in higher-pitched sounds during vocalization.
The classical understanding of the anatomy is that the cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN). However, meticulous anatomical studies have found communication between the EBSLN and the RLN, revealing cross-innervations among these nerve-muscle sets. Electromyographic studies have shown that stimulation of the RLN proximal to the branch yields contraction of the cricothyroid muscle and a laryngeal twitch, while stimulation of the RLN distal to the branch yields only a laryngeal twitch.
The RLN provides sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cords, while the internal laryngeal nerve supplies the region above. The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid muscle is unique in that it is the only intrinsic muscle of the larynx that is not supplied by the RLN. Instead, it is innervated by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.
The larynx itself is innervated by branches of the vagus nerve, which provides motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle through the external branch of the laryngeal nerve. The vagus nerve is also involved in sensory functions, such as taste and sensation in the throat and pharynx. The blood supply to the larynx is derived from the superior and inferior laryngeal arteries.
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The internal laryngeal nerve supplies the area above the vocal cord
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, which facilitate vocalization. The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN). The recurrent laryngeal nerve also provides sensory innervation to the part of the larynx below the level of the vocal cord.
The superior laryngeal nerve has two branches: the internal branch, which provides sensory innervation to the supraglottic region, and the external branch, which supplies motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle. The internal branch pierces the thyroid membrane, above the superior laryngeal artery. It is sensory to the laryngeal, the back of the tongue, the epiglottis, and the vocal cords. The superior laryngeal nerve's external branch lies immediately deep to the superior thyroid artery and descends toward the larynx.
The superior laryngeal nerve runs lateral to the pharynx and gives off both internal and external laryngeal nerves. The external laryngeal nerve runs lateral to the larynx deep to the sternothyroid muscle and innervates the cricothyroid and superior pharyngeal muscles. The internal laryngeal nerve enters the larynx with the superior laryngeal artery, as mentioned above.
The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve, supplying the entire larynx with its complex branching pattern. The superior laryngeal nerve, external and internal superior laryngeal nerve branches, and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) all contribute distinctly to laryngeal function. The RLN is a branch of the vagus nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
The cricothyroid muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN).
The cricothyroid muscle is a laryngeal muscle that facilitates vocalization, allowing humans to speak and sing.
The cricothyroid is an intrinsic muscle of the larynx. It is also known as the "singer's muscle" as it alters the tone of voice and creates forceful speech by stretching and tensing the vocal ligaments.
The blood supply to the cricothyroid muscle is from the cricothyroid artery, which arises from the superior thyroid artery, a branch of the external carotid artery.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. It also provides sensory innervation to the part of the larynx below the level of the vocal cord.
