:Crico-thyroid muscles:

Pronunciation GB: ˌkraɪkəʊˈθaɪrɔɪd, GA: ˌkraɪkoʊˈθaɪrɔɪd

A set of muscles connecting the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage. Their contraction has the effect of pulling the thyroid cartilage forward and downward and thereby stretching the vocal folds.


Front view of the larynx
Image: Olek Remesz, used under this licence.