Logan Steele
The larynx, commonly referred to as the voice box, is an organ in the neck that plays a crucial role in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea during swallowing. The muscles of the larynx can be broadly classified into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. While the extrinsic muscles act on the larynx and its surrounding areas, the intrinsic muscles are confined within the larynx. The infrahyoid muscles, a subgroup of extrinsic muscles, are responsible for depressing the larynx. This group includes muscles such as the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid, which attach to the lower larynx and the hyoid bone. Depressing the larynx, however, is not recommended for healthy singing as it restricts the movement of the vocal folds and introduces unnecessary tension.
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What You'll Learn
The infrahyoid muscles depress the larynx
The infrahyoid muscles are a group of muscles that attach to the lower larynx and the inferior aspect of the hyoid bone. They are extrinsic muscles, which means they have one attachment site outside the larynx. They are responsible for depressing the larynx, in contrast to the suprahyoid muscles, which elevate it.
The infrahyoid muscles include the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles. These muscles work together to lower the larynx and the hyoid bone, with the exception of the thyrohyoid, which elevates the larynx when the hyoid bone is fixed in place.
The sternohyoid muscle, as the name suggests, connects the sternum to the hyoid bone. When contracted, it depresses the hyoid bone, which is essential for swallowing. The omohyoid muscle is constructed similarly to the digastric muscle, with two bellies separated by an intermediate tendon. It originates on the superior surface of the scapula and inserts on the inferior surface of the hyoid, acting to depress the hyoid.
The sternothyroid muscle does not directly connect to the hyoid bone but influences its movement. It originates on the sternum and inserts into the thyroid cartilage, depressing the thyroid cartilage, which is the main cartilage of the larynx. The thyrohyoid muscle extends between the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid, drawing them together. If the thyroid is fixed, the contraction of this muscle results in the depression of the hyoid bone.
The infrahyoid muscles, along with the suprahyoid muscles, play a crucial role in controlling the positioning of the hyoid bone, which in turn affects the size and shape of the upper airways. They are also important for functions related to speech, swallowing, and the movement of the larynx.
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The tongue can depress the larynx
The laryngeal muscles are critical to voice production, breathing, and airway protection during swallowing. These muscles are categorized into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic muscles are attached to the hyoid bone and move the thyroid cartilage. They can be further divided into the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles. The suprahyoid muscles, such as the stylohyoid, digastric, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid, elevate the larynx. On the other hand, the infrahyoid muscles, including the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid, depress the larynx.
The tongue, although not a muscle, can also play a role in depressing the larynx. This is often observed in singing, where students may consciously or unconsciously use their tongues to depress the larynx in an attempt to produce a deeper and more resonant sound. This technique is sometimes encouraged by teachers or choir directors to achieve a desired tone. However, it is crucial to note that depressing the larynx with the tongue can lead to vocal health problems, including undesirable timbres, distorted vowels, and unclear diction. It can also cause discomfort in the throat and affect the singer's ability to access the head register.
The tongue's retraction or backward movement can be caused by long-ingrained speech habits or the use of the hyoglossus muscle to depress the larynx and enhance depth and resonance. This action can create tension in the tongue, leading to a feeling of tightness and discomfort in the throat. Additionally, it can result in compensatory movements in the larynx, pulling it upward and forward, disrupting the precise coordination required for clear and efficient vocalization.
To avoid these issues, singers should focus on maintaining a slightly low laryngeal position without overly depressing the larynx with the tongue. This can be achieved by adopting the nasal resonance and the 'NG' tongue position, where the middle of the tongue forms an arch to shape the vowels and the tongue tip rests in its correct place. This technique allows for a healthy, warm, and balanced vocal tone that includes both higher and lower overtones.
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The stylopharyngeus elevates the larynx
The stylopharyngeus is a muscle in the head that originates from the temporal styloid process. It is the only muscle of the pharynx that is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX) and is not attached directly to the hyoid bone. However, it acts indirectly to elevate the hyoid bone and the larynx.
The stylopharyngeus is a long, slender, tapered pharyngeal muscle. It is cylindrical superiorly and flattened inferiorly. It passes inferiorly along the side of the pharynx between the superior pharyngeal constrictor and the middle pharyngeal constrictor. It then spreads out beneath the mucous membrane of the pharynx before finally inserting into three distinct sites.
The stylopharyngeus is the medial-most and most vertical of the three styloid muscles. It is situated in between the external carotid artery and internal carotid artery. On the lateral pharyngeal wall, it is situated posterior to the superior constrictor muscle and anterior to the buccopharyngeal fascia. The swallowing reflex is triggered once the food bolus touches the pharyngeal wall. The pharyngeal constrictor muscles then propel the bolus through the pharynx towards the oesophagus. The internal pharyngeal longitudinal muscles, including the stylopharyngeus, elevate the pharynx in order to receive the food bolus.
The stylopharyngeus is a muscle derived from the third pharyngeal arch that raises the larynx and pharynx and functions during swallowing. The glossopharyngeal nerve contains branchial motor fibres to the stylopharyngeus muscle, which is derived from the third pharyngeal arch. This branch is given off to the muscle as it passes across it as it descends down from the jugular foramen.
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The intrinsic laryngeal muscles control sound production
The larynx, commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck that plays a role in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The muscles of the larynx can be divided into two groups: external muscles and internal muscles. The external muscles, or extrinsic muscles, act to elevate or depress the larynx during swallowing. The suprahyoid muscles and the stylopharyngeus elevate the larynx, while the infrahyoid muscles and sternothyroid muscles depress the larynx.
The internal muscles, or intrinsic laryngeal muscles, 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, thus playing a vital role in breathing and phonation. The intrinsic laryngeal muscles are primarily responsible for controlling sound production by adjusting the vocal cords' tension, length, and position.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles include the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles. The cricothyroid muscles are responsible for tensing the vocal cords, while the thyroarytenoid and vocalis muscles are responsible for relaxing them. The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are the major adductors of the vocal folds, modulating the tone and volume of speech. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscles are the sole abductors of the vocal folds, and thus the only muscle capable of widening the rima glottidis. The transverse and oblique arytenoids muscles adduct the arytenoid cartilages, closing the posterior portion of the rima glottidis.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles are innervated by branches of the vagus nerve, particularly the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). The cricothyroid is the exception, as this muscle is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), which is also derived from the vagus nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is responsible for innervating all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid muscle.
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The extrinsic muscles of the larynx alter its position
The larynx is a cartilaginous skeleton with intricate neuromuscular control. The muscles of the larynx can be divided into two groups: extrinsic muscles and intrinsic muscles. The extrinsic muscles of the larynx are attached to the hyoid bone and move the thyroid cartilage. They act on the larynx as a whole to alter its position.
The extrinsic muscles are further divided into two groups: the suprahyoid muscles and the infrahyoid muscles. The suprahyoid muscles are attached to the superior aspect of the hyoid bone and function to fixate and elevate the hyoid bone and the larynx. The muscles in this group include the stylohyoid muscle, the digastric muscle, the mylohyoid muscle, and the geniohyoid muscle.
The infrahyoid muscles, on the other hand, are part of and attach to the lower larynx and the inferior aspect of the hyoid bone. This muscle group includes the sternohyoid muscle, the omohyoid muscle, the sternothyroid muscle, and the thyrohyoid muscle. They work to lower the larynx and the hyoid bone.
The stylopharyngeus muscle is also considered an extrinsic muscle of the larynx, although it is not directly attached to the hyoid bone. It acts indirectly to elevate the hyoid bone and the larynx.
The intricate coordination of these extrinsic muscles ensures that the larynx functions effectively during phonation and airway protection.
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Frequently asked questions
The infrahyoid muscles depress the larynx. This group includes the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles.
The extrinsic muscles of the larynx are those that are attached to the hyoid bone, either via origin or insertion, and move the thyroid cartilage. They include the infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscles.
The intrinsic muscles of the larynx are confined entirely within the larynx and include the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles. They control sound production by adjusting the vocal cords' tension, length, and position.
Depressing the larynx restricts the movement of the vocal folds and adds unnecessary tension. It is important to keep the trachea relaxed while singing, and depressing the larynx causes the opposite effect.
