Oblique Arytenoid (Musculus arytenoideus obliquus)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The oblique arytenoid is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle situated superficial to the transverse arytenoid on the posterior surface of the arytenoids. The bilateral muscular slips cross each other diagonally like an X across the midline, extending from the base of one arytenoid to the apex of the contralateral arytenoid. It acts to approximate the arytenoid cartilages and constrict the laryngeal inlet.
Origin & insertion
From the muscular process of one arytenoid cartilage to the apex of the opposite arytenoid cartilage, with some fibers continuing into the aryepiglottic fold.
Action
Approximates the arytenoid apexes and narrows the posterior laryngeal inlet during swallowing.
Innervation
Recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of vagus nerve, cranial nerve X).
Clinical notes
Part of the functional laryngeal sphincter mechanism; its rapid reflex contraction prevents food bolus entry into the airway during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Oblique Arytenoid?
The oblique arytenoid is a paired intrinsic laryngeal muscle situated superficial to the transverse arytenoid on the posterior surface of the arytenoids. The bilateral muscular slips cross each other diagonally like an X across the midline, extending from the base of one arytenoid to the apex of the contralateral arytenoid. It acts to approximate the arytenoid cartilages and constrict the laryngeal inlet.
Why is the Oblique Arytenoid clinically important?
Part of the functional laryngeal sphincter mechanism; its rapid reflex contraction prevents food bolus entry into the airway during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details