Lateral Cricothyroid Ligament

Description

Arising from the superior border of the cricoid arch and running superolaterally to the inferior margin and inferior horn (cornu inferius) of the thyroid cartilage, the lateral cricothyroid ligament (ligamentum cricothyreoideum laterale) forms the thickened lateral portion of the conus elasticus. Just medial to it, the cricothyroid joint line sits between the cricoid cartilage and the inferior horn of the thyroid cartilage, while the cricothyroid muscle lies anterolaterally across the same interval. Posteriorly, the mucosa-lined airway of the laryngeal cavity is seen in profile, with the posterior cricoarytenoid region implied on the dorsal aspect of the cricoid lamina. A small but defining boundary. Because the lateral cricothyroid ligament helps delimit the cricothyroid articulation, it anchors the mechanics that let the thyroid cartilage rock and tilt on the cricoid, adjusting vocal fold tension during phonation. That same neighborhood is where anterior neck trauma and targeted procedures can go wrong: misplacing a cricothyrotomy too laterally risks traversing the cricothyroid muscle and approaching the superior thyroid vessels, while an incision too superior threatens the vocal folds and anterior commissure. Clear depiction of the conus elasticus and the cricoid arch provides a practical map for safe midline access and for understanding why cricothyroid joint dysfunction can alter pitch. Use this artwork for head and neck anatomy teaching (larynx and intrinsic muscles), otolaryngology texts on phonatory biomechanics, and surgical training materials covering cricothyrotomy and open laryngeal approaches, where ligamentous boundaries guide incision planning and instrument trajectories. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.