Vocalis (Musculus vocalis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The vocalis is the specialized, deep medial portion of the thyro-arytenoid muscle directly embedded within the vocal fold and intimately applied to the vocal ligament. Originating from the angle of the thyroid cartilage, it inserts into the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage. It allows micro-adjustments of tension, thickness, and stiffness along the vocal fold margin during phonation.
Origin & insertion
From the internal aspect of the thyroid cartilage angle near the midline to the vocal process and oblong fovea of the arytenoid cartilage.
Action
Adjusts the internal tension, thickness, and vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds, modulating pitch and vocal timbre during speech and singing.
Innervation
Recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of vagus nerve, cranial nerve X).
Clinical notes
Vocal cord nodules (singer nodes) and polyps characteristically form at the junction of the anterior one-third and posterior two-thirds of the true vocal fold where mechanical vibration amplitude over the vocalis muscle is maximal.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Vocalis?
The vocalis is the specialized, deep medial portion of the thyro-arytenoid muscle directly embedded within the vocal fold and intimately applied to the vocal ligament. Originating from the angle of the thyroid cartilage, it inserts into the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage. It allows micro-adjustments of tension, thickness, and stiffness along the vocal fold margin during phonation.
Why is the Vocalis clinically important?
Vocal cord nodules (singer nodes) and polyps characteristically form at the junction of the anterior one-third and posterior two-thirds of the true vocal fold where mechanical vibration amplitude over the vocalis muscle is maximal.
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