Arytenoid Cartilage

The arytenoid cartilage is a pair of little triangle-shaped cartilages. They are located on the top border of the cricoid cartilage's lamina, at the back of the larynx. These cartilages attach the vocal cords to the larynx. This connection and articulation help with the production of sound. Each cartilage has an apex, a base and three surfaces. The apex of each cartilage is pointy and curves back and medialward. It has a tiny conical, cartilaginous nodule covering it called the corniculate...

Click to read more below

Anatomy Terms

Change Anatomical System

Change View Angle

Full Arytenoid Cartilage Description

[Continued from above] . . . cartilage. The bases are wide with smooth concave surfaces for articulation with the cricoid cartilage. The sideways angle is curved, distinct and short. It sticks out backward and sideward, and is called the muscular process. The anterior angel is also prominent; however it's pointier and points forward horizontally. It attached to the vocal ligament and is termed the vocal process.

The posterior surface has three sides, like a triangle, is concave, smooth and attaches to the arytenoideous obliquus and transversus. The anterolateral surface curves outward a bit and is rough. On this surface, close to the cartilage's apex, there is a curved elevation (colliculus) from where a bump (crista arcuata) curves backward at first and then down and forward toward the vocal process. The medial surface is flat, thin and smooth. It has mucous membrane covering it and creates the lateral boundary of the intercartilaginous part of the rima glottidis.