actions of laryngeal muscles: anatomy


Laryngeal muscles play a crucial role in regulating vocal cord movement, controlling the pitch and quality of voice, and protecting the airway during various functions such as swallowing and speaking. Here's an overview of the actions of different laryngeal muscles:

**1. Cricothyroid Muscle:**
- **Action:** The cricothyroid muscle tenses and elongates the vocal cords.
- **Function:** It is responsible for controlling pitch changes in the voice by adjusting the tension of the vocal cords. When contracted, it increases tension, leading to higher-pitched sounds.

**2. Thyroarytenoid Muscle (Vocalis Muscle):**
- **Action:** The thyroarytenoid muscle relaxes and shortens the vocal cords.
- **Function:** It helps in controlling pitch and vocal quality. When contracted, it reduces tension in the vocal cords, producing lower-pitched and more relaxed sounds.

**3. Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle:**
- **Action:** The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle abducts (moves apart) the arytenoid cartilages and vocal cords.
- **Function:** It is the only muscle that opens the vocal cords during inspiration, allowing air to flow into the lungs. It also plays a role in producing high-pitched sounds.

**4. Lateral Cricoarytenoid Muscle:**
- **Action:** The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle adducts (moves together) the arytenoid cartilages and vocal cords.
- **Function:** It brings the vocal cords together for phonation (sound production) and speech.

**5. Transverse Arytenoid Muscle:**
- **Action:** The transverse arytenoid muscle adducts the arytenoid cartilages.
- **Function:** It assists in closing the posterior part of the glottis during speech and swallowing.

**6. Oblique Arytenoid Muscle:**
- **Action:** The oblique arytenoid muscle pulls the arytenoid cartilages medially and adducts the vocal cords.
- **Function:** It helps to close the anterior part of the glottis during speech and swallowing.

**7. Vocalis Muscle (part of the thyroarytenoid muscle):**
- **Action:** The vocalis muscle adjusts the tension of the vocal cords by altering the length of the vocal ligament.
- **Function:** Together with the cricothyroid muscle, it contributes to pitch modulation.

**8. Cricopharyngeus Muscle:**
- **Action:** The cricopharyngeus muscle forms part of the upper esophageal sphincter and aids in swallowing.
- **Function:** It relaxes during swallowing to allow the passage of food or liquid into the esophagus.

In summary, the various laryngeal muscles work in coordination to control vocal cord tension, regulate pitch and vocal quality, and ensure proper functioning during breathing, phonation, and swallowing. These muscles play a crucial role in producing speech and maintaining the airway's integrity.





Certainly! Here are ten multiple-choice questions (MCQs) along with their answers about the actions of different laryngeal muscles:

**Question 1:**
Which laryngeal muscle is responsible for controlling pitch changes in the voice by adjusting vocal cord tension?
A) Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
B) Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
C) Thyroarytenoid muscle
D) Transverse arytenoid muscle
**Answer: C) Thyroarytenoid muscle**

**Question 2:**
Which laryngeal muscle is responsible for abducting the vocal cords during inspiration?
A) Cricothyroid muscle
B) Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
C) Oblique arytenoid muscle
D) Thyroarytenoid muscle
**Answer: B) Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle**

**Question 3:**
The function of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle is to:
A) Abduct the vocal cords
B) Adduct the vocal cords
C) Shorten the vocal cords
D) Open the upper esophageal sphincter
**Answer: B) Adduct the vocal cords**

**Question 4:**
Which muscle assists in closing the posterior part of the glottis during speech and swallowing?
A) Transverse arytenoid muscle
B) Cricothyroid muscle
C) Oblique arytenoid muscle
D) Thyroarytenoid muscle
**Answer: A) Transverse arytenoid muscle**

**Question 5:**
The primary function of the cricopharyngeus muscle is to:
A) Adduct the vocal cords
B) Abduct the vocal cords
C) Relax during swallowing
D) Tense the vocal cords
**Answer: C) Relax during swallowing**

**Question 6:**
Which muscle pulls the arytenoid cartilages medially and adducts the vocal cords?
A) Transverse arytenoid muscle
B) Oblique arytenoid muscle
C) Cricothyroid muscle
D) Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
**Answer: B) Oblique arytenoid muscle**

**Question 7:**
The cricothyroid muscle is responsible for:
A) Abducting the vocal cords
B) Adducting the vocal cords
C) Tensing and elongating the vocal cords
D) Relaxing and shortening the vocal cords
**Answer: C) Tensing and elongating the vocal cords**

**Question 8:**
Which muscle contributes to pitch modulation by adjusting the length of the vocal ligament?
A) Thyroarytenoid muscle
B) Cricothyroid muscle
C) Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
D) Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
**Answer: A) Thyroarytenoid muscle**

**Question 9:**
The function of the vocalis muscle is to:
A) Abduct the vocal cords
B) Shorten the vocal cords
C) Relax the vocal cords
D) Adduct the vocal cords
**Answer: B) Shorten the vocal cords**

**Question 10:**
Which muscle forms part of the upper esophageal sphincter and aids in swallowing?
A) Cricothyroid muscle
B) Oblique arytenoid muscle
C) Cricopharyngeus muscle
D) Transverse arytenoid muscle
**Answer: C) Cricopharyngeus muscle**
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