cricoarytenoid

noun

cri·​co·​ar·​y·​te·​noid ˌkrī-kō-ˌar-ə-ˈtē-ˌnȯid How to pronounce cricoarytenoid (audio) -kō-ə-ˈrit-ᵊn-ˌȯid How to pronounce cricoarytenoid (audio)
1
: a muscle of the larynx that arises from the upper margin of the arch of the cricoid cartilage, inserts into the front of the process of the arytenoid cartilage, and helps to narrow the opening of the vocal cords

called also lateral cricoarytenoid

2
: a muscle of the larynx that arises from the posterior surface of the lamina of the cricoid cartilage, inserts into the posterior of the process of the arytenoid cartilage, and widens the opening of the vocal cords

called also posterior cricoarytenoid

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Cite this Entry

“Cricoarytenoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/cricoarytenoid. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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