Lateral crico-arytenoid

Looks like

A small muscle on each side of the voice box, running from the side of the cricoid cartilage back to the arytenoid cartilage.

What it does

Swings the arytenoid cartilages so the vocal cords come together for speaking and protecting the airway.

Keeping it well

Powered by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which can be damaged in thyroid or chest surgery. Hoarseness lasting over 3 weeks needs an ENT check.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Croup & epiglottitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Head and neck cancer
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Laryngitis & voice disorders
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus