Muscles of the larynx: posterolateral view (Latin)

The intrinsic muscles of the larynx (mm. interni laryngis alter both the length and the tension placed upon the plicae vocales. They can be functionally divided into adductors (m. cricoarytenoid lateralis, m. arytenoideus obliquus, m. arytenoideus transversus), abductors (m. cricoarytenoideus posterior), sphincters (m. arytenoideus transversus, m. aryepiglotticus), tensors (m. cricothyroideus), and relaxors (m. thyroarytenoideus, m. vocalis). The space between the vocal cords is called rima glottidis.