Click on the structure to specify the target of your label
![]() |
01 | ![]() |
Transverse arytenoid
Other Terms:
Arytenoideus transversus,
Musculus arytenoideus transversus,
Muscle aryténoïdien transverse
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus arytenoideus transversus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Branchial arch muscle – sixth arch (Laryngeal muscle)
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the crosswise muscle of the ladle shaped cartilage. The term arytenoideus comes from the Greek arytaina meaning “ladle or dipper” and the suffix eidos meaning “shape or form.”The Latin term transversus means “crosswise” and comes from Latin trans meaning “across, beyond, or through” and the Latin verb vertere meaning “to turn.”
Origin
Muscular process and adjacent lateral margin of one arytenoid cartilage
Insertion
Muscular process and adjacent lateral margin of the opposite arytenoid cartilage
Action
Pull the arytenoid cartilages towards each other to narrow the glottis.
Nerve supply
Vagus nerve (Cranial nerve X)
Blood supply
The laryngeal muscles receive blood from both the subclavian and external carotid arteries. The thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian gives rise to the inferior thyroid, which gives rise to the inferior laryngeal artery. This artery enters the larynx from below. Entering the larynx from above is the superior laryngeal artery, which is a branch of the superior thyroid artery from the external carotid.
Latin
Musculus arytenoideus transversus
French
Muscle aryténoïdien transverse