The aryepiglottic muscle or aryepiglotticus muscle, often considered the aryepiglottic part of oblique arytenoid muscle, is an
intrinsic muscle of the larynx.
It is a direct continuation of a portion of the fibers of the
oblique arytenoid
The oblique arytenoid is bilaterally paired intrinsic muscle of the larynx. It is superficial to the transverse arytenoid; the oblique and transverse arytenoids are often considered two parts of a single muscle - the interarytenoid muscle (which ...
muscle, sharing its
innervation
A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons). Nerves have historically been considered the basic units of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses called ...
and blood supply, after these select fibers travel laterally around the arytenoid apex to the
aryepiglottic fold
The aryepiglottic folds are triangular folds of mucous membrane of the larynx. They enclose ligamentous and muscular fibres. They extend from the lateral borders of the epiglottis to the arytenoid cartilages, hence the name 'aryepiglottic'. The ...
.
The aryepiglottic muscle is innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the
recurrent laryngeal nerve
The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), also known as nervus recurrens, is a branch of the vagus nerve ( cranial nerve X) that supplies all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, with the exception of the cricothyroid muscles. There are two recur ...
(itself a branch of the
vagus nerve
The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body. This nerve carries both sensory and motor fibe ...
).
Together with the oblique arytenoid muscle, it helps to act as a
sphincter
A sphincter is a circular muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. Sphincters are found in many animals. There are over 60 types in the human bo ...
and weak
adductor of the
laryngeal inlet
The laryngeal inlet (laryngeal aditus, laryngeal aperture) is the opening that connects the pharynx and the larynx.
Borders
Its borders are formed by:
* the free curved edge of the epiglottis, anteriorly
* the arytenoid cartilages, the cornicul ...
.
Additional images
File:Slide14sss.JPG, Aryepiglottic muscle
See also
*
Vestibular folds
External links
* ()
References
Muscles of the head and neck
{{muscle-stub