
The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle, which sits parallel to the vocal ligament and is the main component of the vocal cords. It is involved in producing speech and song by making small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments. The vocalis muscle is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is responsible for sensory and motor innervation to the larynx and its muscles, with the exception of the cricothyroid muscle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Innervation | Recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of the vagus nerve) |
| External laryngeal nerve (branch of superior laryngeal nerve) | |
| Inferior laryngeal nerve (branch of recurrent laryngeal nerve) | |
| Arterial Supply | Superior thyroid artery |
| Inferior thyroid artery | |
| Venous Drainage | Superior and inferior laryngeal veins |
| Muscle Type | Paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle |
| Function | Fine adjustments to vocal ligaments during speech and song |
| Shortens and thickens vocal folds, changing the tonal quality of the voice | |
| Contributes to changes in pitch during animated speech or singing | |
| Modulates tone and volume of speech | |
| Lengthens and shortens vocal folds | |
| Controls shape of rima glottidis | |
| Controls length and tension of vocal folds | |
| Attachments | Originates at the lateral surface of the vocal process of arytenoid cartilage |
| Inserts on the ipsilateral vocal ligament near the thyroid cartilage |
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What You'll Learn
- The vocalis muscle is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve
- The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle
- The vocalis muscle is the main component of the vocal cords
- The vocalis muscle is formed from the medial detached part of the thyroarytenoid muscle
- The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments

The vocalis muscle is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve
The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle, which sits parallel to the vocal ligament. It is the main component of the vocal cords and is involved in producing speech. The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments. By lengthening and 'thinning' the vocal folds, or shortening and 'thickening' them, the vocalis muscle changes the tonal quality of the voice.
The vocalis muscle receives arterial supply from the superior and inferior thyroid arteries. Venous blood from the vocalis is drained by the superior and inferior laryngeal veins, which are tributaries of the internal jugular vein. The vocalis muscle also receives a communicating branch from the external laryngeal nerve, although the role of this nerve supply is not well understood.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles, including the vocalis muscle, act on the individual components of the larynx. They control the shape of the rima glottidis (the opening between the vocal folds and the arytenoid cartilages) and the length and tension of the vocal folds. The intrinsic muscles of the larynx can be contrasted with the extrinsic muscles, which act to elevate or depress the larynx during swallowing.
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The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle
The vocalis muscle originates at the lateral surface of the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage and inserts onto the ipsilateral vocal ligament. It acts in opposite pairs to open and close, or lengthen and shorten the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle selectively relaxes and tenses the anterior and posterior parts of the vocal folds, contributing to changes in pitch during animated speech or singing.
The vocalis muscle is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve. It also receives a communicating branch from the external laryngeal nerve, although the role of this nerve supply is not well understood. The muscle receives its arterial supply from the laryngeal branches of the superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery. Venous blood from the vocalis muscle is drained by the superior and inferior laryngeal veins, which are tributaries of the internal jugular vein.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles can be contrasted with the extrinsic laryngeal muscles, which act to elevate or depress the larynx during swallowing. The extrinsic muscles are also involved in positioning and stabilizing the larynx during speech.
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The vocalis muscle is the main component of the vocal cords
The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle, which sits parallel to the vocal ligament. It is the main component of the vocal cords, also known as the vocal folds. The vocal cords are flaps of tissue located in the larynx, just above the trachea, and give us the ability to produce sound. There are two vocal cords, one on either side of the laryngeal cavity. Each vocal cord consists of a vocal ligament, a vocalis muscle, and a covering mucous membrane.
The vocalis muscle, along with the vocal ligament and the thyroarytenoid muscle, forms the deepest structure of the mucous membrane-covered vocal folds. The thyroarytenoid muscle is a thin, broad muscle that forms the body of the vocal fold and supports the ventricle wall and its appendix. It functions to shorten the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle receives its arterial supply from the laryngeal branches of the superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery. Venous blood from the vocalis is drained by the superior and inferior laryngeal veins, which are tributaries of the internal jugular vein.
The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments. Lengthening the vocal folds 'thins' them, while shortening the vocal folds 'thickens' them. Therefore, the general action of the vocalis muscle is to shorten and thicken the vocal folds, thereby changing the tonal quality of the voice. The pitch of the sound produced can be altered by changing the position and tension of the vocal folds. These movements are controlled by the joints and muscles of the larynx.
The muscles of the larynx can be divided into two groups: the external muscles and the internal muscles. The external muscles act to elevate or depress the larynx during swallowing. In contrast, the internal muscles, including the vocalis muscle, act on the individual components of the larynx, playing a vital role in breathing and phonation. The intrinsic laryngeal muscles, except the cricothyroid, are innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which is itself a branch of the vagus nerve.
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The vocalis muscle is formed from the medial detached part of the thyroarytenoid muscle
The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle, which sits parallel to the vocal ligament. It is the main component of the vocal cords, which are responsible for sound production. The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments, thereby changing the tonal quality of the voice.
The vocalis muscle is closely related to the thyroarytenoid muscle, and some anatomists debate whether the vocalis muscle is a distinct muscle or a part of the thyroarytenoid muscle. The latter view suggests that the vocalis muscle is formed from the medial detached part of the thyroarytenoid muscle, known as the thyroarytenoid internus. The vocalis muscle consists of more delicate muscle fibres than the thyroarytenoid muscle.
The thyroarytenoid muscle is a broad, thin muscle that forms the body of the vocal fold and supports the wall of the ventricle and its appendix. It functions to shorten the vocal folds, allowing for a softer voice. The thyroarytenoid muscle arises from the lower half of the angle of the thyroid cartilage and the middle cricothyroid ligament. Its fibres pass backward and laterally, inserting into the base and anterior surface of the arytenoid cartilage.
The vocalis muscle, along with the vocal ligament and the thyroarytenoid muscle, forms the deepest structure of the mucous membrane-covered vocal folds. The vocalis muscle extends from the arytenoid cartilage towards the thyroid cartilage, running parallel to the vocal ligament until it inserts on the ligament's anterior part. The space between the right and left vocal folds is called the rima glottidis, which leads into the larynx.
The vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles are innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve. They also receive a communicating branch from the external laryngeal nerve, although the role of this nerve supply is not well understood. The vocalis muscle receives its arterial supply from the laryngeal branches of the superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery. The venous blood from the vocalis muscle is drained by the superior and inferior laryngeal veins, which are tributaries of the internal jugular vein.
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The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments
The vocalis muscle is a small, strand-like muscle that sits parallel to the vocal ligament. It is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle, and together with the vocal ligament, it is the main component of the vocal cords or vocal folds. The vocalis muscle originates at the lateral surface of the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage and attaches to the anterior part of the vocal ligament near the thyroid cartilage.
The vocal folds are flaps of tissue located in the larynx, with one fold on either side of the laryngeal cavity. The pitch of the sound produced can be altered by changing the position and tension of the folds. The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation. Similar to a rubber band, lengthening the vocal folds 'thins' them, while shortening the vocal folds 'thickens' them. This results in a change in the tonal quality of the voice.
The vocalis muscle, along with the vocal ligament and the thyroarytenoid muscle, forms the deepest structure of the mucous membrane-covered vocal folds. The mucous membrane, consisting of mucosal epithelium, encases the vocal ligament and vocalis muscle. This forms a well-defined 'fold' of tissue located on the left and right walls of the larynx. The space between the right and left vocal folds is called the rima glottidis, which leads into the larynx.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles act on the individual components of the larynx, controlling the shape of the rima glottidis and the length and tension of the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle, along with the thyroarytenoid muscle, is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve. They also receive a communicating branch from the external laryngeal nerve, although the role of this nerve supply is not well understood.
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Frequently asked questions
The vocalis muscle is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve.
The vocalis muscle is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle that sits parallel to the vocal ligament. It is the main component of the vocal cords.
The vocalis muscle makes small adjustments to the tension of the vocal ligaments. It shortens and thickens the vocal folds, changing the tonal quality of the voice.
The vocalis muscle is considered by some to be part of the thyroarytenoid muscle. However, this is debated among anatomists due to their close relation.











































