Arythenoid Cartilage

Description

Centered within the laryngeal framework, the paired arytenoid cartilages sit on the superoposterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage, just inferior to the laryngeal inlet and posterior to the vocal folds. Each arytenoid has a pyramidal body with an anteriorly directed vocal process for attachment of the vocal ligament, and a laterally directed muscular process where the posterior cricoarytenoid and lateral cricoarytenoid insert. Superiorly, the arytenoids relate to the quadrangular membrane and vestibular folds, while inferiorly they articulate with the cricoid at the synovial cricoarytenoid joints that permit both rocking and gliding motions. Orientation is everything. Those small joint movements are the mechanical basis of phonation and airway protection: arytenoid adduction closes the rima glottidis for voice and cough, while abduction opens it for respiration. Paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve classically leaves the posterior cricoarytenoid weakened, so the ipsilateral vocal fold fails to abduct and patients present with hoarseness, breathy voice, or stridor depending on unilateral versus bilateral involvement. This is the anatomy surgeons and anesthesiologists watch during thyroidectomy, anterior cervical spine approaches, and difficult intubations, where arytenoid trauma or dislocation can mimic vocal fold paresis. Medical educators can drop this into head and neck anatomy, speech and hearing science, or otolaryngology teaching sets to explain how the vocal process, muscular process, and cricoarytenoid articulation coordinate pitch, loudness, and airway competence. It also suits atlases and journal figures discussing vocal fold immobility, arytenoid granuloma, or framework surgery such as medialization and arytenoid adduction procedures. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.