The voice box muscles
Intrinsic muscles of the larynx
Tiny muscles inside the voice box that open, close and tension your vocal cords.
What it does
Small muscles move the cartilages of the voice box. Some bring the vocal cords together so air vibrates them to make sound; one pulls them apart for breathing; others stretch or relax them to change pitch. They also slam the airway shut when you swallow or cough.
Surprising fact
Only one small muscle, the posterior cricoarytenoid, opens the vocal cords, so you depend on it for every breath.
Why it matters
The nerves to these muscles loop deep into the chest, so a hoarse voice can sometimes be the first sign of a problem in the chest or neck.
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.