human_reference_atlas Homo sapiens muscle of larynx posterior crico-arytenoid http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Musculuscricoarytenoideusposterior.png cricoarytænoideus posterior UBERON:0008572 FMA:46576 AS posterior cricoarytenoideus uberon SCTID:244812005 posterior cricoarytenoid muscle posterior cricoarytenoid muscle Wikipedia:Posterior_cricoarytenoid_muscle posterior cricoarytenoid muscle The posterior cricoarytenoid muscles are extremely small, paired muscles that extend from the posterior cricoid cartilage to the arytenoid cartilages in the larynx. By rotating the arytenoid cartilages laterally, these muscles abduct the vocal cords and thereby open the rima glottidis. Their action opposes the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X). Paralysis of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles may lead to asphyxiation as they are the only laryngeal muscles to open the true vocal folds, allowing inspiration and expiration. musculus cricoarytenoideus posterior cricoarytaenoideus posterior posterior cricoarytenoid crico-arytenoid muscle