Muscles of the larynx: posterolateral view (English)

The intrinsic muscles of the larynx alter both the length and the tension placed upon the vocal cords. They can be functionally divided into adductors (lateral cricoarytenoid, oblique arytenoid, transverse arytenoid), abductors (posterior cricoarytenoid), sphincters (transverse arytenoid, aryepiglottic), tensors (cricothyroid), and relaxors (thyroarytenoid, vocalis). The space between the vocal cords is called rima glottidis.