Muscles of the Larynx, Posterior View

Description

Positioned superiorly, the hyoid bone forms a U shaped anchor above the laryngeal framework, while the thyroid cartilage sits anterior to the airway and the cricoid cartilage forms a complete ring inferiorly at the level of the first tracheal rings. Posteriorly, paired arytenoid cartilages cap the superior border of the cricoid lamina and provide attachment for the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Along the posterior surface, the posterior cricoarytenoid spans from the cricoid lamina to the muscular process of the arytenoid, with the transverse and oblique arytenoids coursing between the arytenoid cartilages at the midline. Small but decisive. This posterior perspective matters because it isolates the only true abductor of the vocal folds, the posterior cricoarytenoid, and clarifies its leverage across the cricoarytenoid joint compared with the adductors that approximate the arytenoids. In recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, weakness or paralysis of these intrinsic muscles produces a predictable vocal fold position, and bilateral dysfunction can narrow the rima glottidis enough to drive stridor and urgent airway management. For surgeons, the relationship of the intrinsic muscle bellies to the cricoid lamina and arytenoid cartilages supports teaching of endoscopic arytenoidectomy, posterior cordotomy, and framework procedures where posterior glottic mechanics dictate outcomes. Speech pathology curricula, otolaryngology teaching files, and anesthesia airway modules use this configuration to explain phonation versus respiration, posterior glottic stenosis, and why posterior laryngeal edema can disproportionately affect airflow. Medical publishers can also pair the view with laryngoscopy photographs to link surface findings to the underlying muscular vectors at the cricoarytenoid joint. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.