Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Transverse arytenoid

Musculus arytenoideus transversus

Origin

Posterior surface and lateral border of one arytenoid cartilage

Insertion

Corresponding posterior surface of the opposite arytenoid cartilage (a single, unpaired muscle between the two cartilages)

Function

Adducts the arytenoid cartilages and closes the posterior (intercartilaginous) part of the rima glottidis

Innervation

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of the vagus nerve, CN X)

Movement & chain

Works together with lateral cricoarytenoid and oblique arytenoid as a complete vocal fold adductor during phonation.

Palpation

Not palpable; bridges the posterior surfaces of both arytenoid cartilages.

Clinical

Functionally forms one unit with oblique arytenoid (together also called the interarytenoid muscle); insufficient closure of this posterior glottic part contributes to a hoarse, breathy voice.

Segmental innervation

Motor via the recurrent laryngeal nerve (vagus nerve X); no spinal segment.

In clinical practice

The only unpaired intrinsic laryngeal muscle; approximates arytenoids to close the posterior glottis; voice therapy for posterior glottal chink.

Region in the model

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)