Phonation Muscles

Lateral Cricoarytenoid Muscles

Muscles that adduct the vocal cords, playing a crucial role in phonation by regulating airway closure during speech and breathing.

Transverse Arytenoid

Muscle that adducts the vocal cords, assisting in phonation by closing the posterior glottis during speech.

Oblique Arytenoid

Muscle that aids in adducting the vocal cords and promoting phonation by closing the laryngeal inlet.

Posterior cricoarytenoid

Muscle that abducts the vocal cords, facilitating breathing by opening the glottis during respiration.

Thyrovocalis

Muscle that tenses the vocal cords and is involved in pitch control during phonation.

Cricothyroid

Muscle that stretches and tenses the vocal cords to modulate pitch, playing a critical role in voice production.

Thyromuscularis

Muscle that relaxes the vocal cords and helps in lowering pitch during phonation.

Thyroepiglottis

Muscle that alters the position of the epiglottis and assists in protecting the airway during swallowing.

Aryepiglottis

Muscle that helps to close the laryngeal inlet and contributes to airway protection during swallowing.

Stylohyoid

Muscle that elevates the hyoid bone and is involved in swallowing.

Mylohyoid

Muscle that forms the floor of the mouth, assisting in the elevation of the hyoid bone and aiding in swallowing.

Genioglossus

Muscle that originates from the mandible and protrudes the tongue, playing a crucial role in speech and swallowing.

Hyoglossus

Muscle that depresses the tongue and helps retract it, playing a significant role in speech and swallowing.

Thyropharyngeus

Muscle that forms part of the inferior constrictor of the pharynx, aiding in the swallowing process by constricting the pharynx.

Inferior pharyngeal constrictor

Muscle that wraps around the lower part of the pharynx, facilitating the swallowing process by constricting the pharyngeal walls.

Digastricus

Muscle consisting of two muscle bellies, helping to depress the mandible and elevate the hyoid bone during speech and swallowing.

Stemothyroid

Muscle that helps depress the thyroid cartilage and lower the larynx during phonation and swallowing.

Sternohyoid

Muscle that depresses the hyoid bone and stabilizes it during phonation and swallowing.

Omohyoid

Muscle with two bellies that helps to depress the hyoid bone and plays a role in stabilizing it during phonation and swallowing.

Thyrohyoid

Muscle that elevates the thyroid cartilage and helps depress the hyoid bone during phonation and swallowing.