Anatom3DPosterior crico-arytenoid
Musculus cricoarytenoideus posterior · Zadní prstenčitohlasivkový sval
Muscles
Looks like
A fan-shaped muscle on the back of the cricoid cartilage, running up to the outer corner of each arytenoid cartilage.
What it does
The only muscle that opens the vocal cords, keeping the airway open for breathing.
Keeping it well
If both sides are paralysed, the cords stay nearly shut: noisy breathing and breathlessness are an emergency.