The lateral cricoarytenoid (also anterior cricoarytenoid) is an intrinsic muscle of the larynx. It attaches at the cricoid cartilage anteriorly, and at the arytenoid cartilage of the same side posteriorly. It is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve. It acts to close the rima glottidis, thus closing the airway.
Anatomy
The muscle is directed obliquely superoposteriorly from its anterior attachment to its posterior attachment.
Attachments
The muscle's anterior attachment is onto the superior border of the arch of the cricoid cartilage.