3. Thyroarytenoid (TA): (RLN) increases vocal
fold tension, vocal fold
ADduction, the medial aspect of the TA is
called the vocalis
Cricothyroid:(external branch of SLN)
ADduction, increases vocal
fold tension and length (chief pitch-changing
muscle)
Interarytenoid: (RLN) only unpaired muscle,
ADduction
4. Laryngeal Cartilage
• Thyroid, Cricoid, and Arytenoids: hyaline cartilage (hyaline
cartilage is the most common, found in most articular
cartilage)
• Epiglottis: fibroelastic cartilage (less strength, elastin),
attaches to
thyroid cartilage
• Corniculate Cartilage: fibroelastic cartilage, above arytenoid
cartilage, provides rigidity to A-E folds
• Cuneiform Cartilage: fibroelastic cartilage, within A-E folds,
provides rigidity
• Trieceous Cartilage: sometimes found in thyrohyoid
ligament,
may be mistaken on x-ray as a foreign body when calcified
5. Laryngeal Joints
• Cricothyroid Joints: synovial, rocks (hinge)
• Cricoarytenoid Joints: synovial, rocking
motion (anteromedially for
vocal fold ADduction and posterolaterally for
vocal fold ABduction)
7. NOTE: the squamous epithelium and superficial layer of the
lamina
propria form the vocal fold cover, the intermediate and deep
lamina
propria form the vocal ligament (transition zone), the
thyroarytenoid muscle complex forms the vocal fold body
NOTE: The gelatinous consistency of the SLP allows for
fluency of
vibration of the cover over the body during voicing (cover-
body concept
of vocal fold vibration). This vibratory activity can be readily
visualized
using videostroboscopy and is referred to as the mucosal
wave.