Guily, "Electromyographic activity of strap and
cricothyroid muscles in pitch change," Acta Oto-Laryngologica, vol.
EBSLN monitoring was achieved by placing and suturing needle electrodes into the
cricothyroid muscle. An electrophysiologist was present throughout all 4 of the operations reported herein.
Here it descends along the pharyngeal constrictors and is usually closely associated with the superior thyroid artery which crosses medially to supply the
cricothyroid muscle. Activation of the
cricothyroid muscle results in elongation, stiffening, and thinning of the vocal cords during phonation and plays an important role in controlling vocal fundamental frequency.
At least one pair of agonist-antagonist muscles that can change vocal-fold length is needed, such as the
cricothyroid muscle paired with the thyroarytenoid muscle, or the
cricothyroid muscle paired with the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle or a strap muscle ...
The
cricothyroid muscle does not influence vocal fold position in laryngeal paralysis.
He noted that in transferring from heavy to light registrations, there was always a lessening of activity in the vocalis and
cricothyroid muscles. It appeared to him that, as long as the vocalis muscles (thyroarytenoids) were involved in production, the voice stayed in the modal (lower, chest, etc.) register.
The vocalis muscle is dominant over the
cricothyroid muscle.
ends of notes; however, it is customary for classical singers to use the vibrato continually when singing." (8) Western culture uses a vibrato that requires the
cricothyroid muscle in the larynx to produce pulsating contractions.
If the weakness is severe, there can be a tilt of the larynx towards the side of the weakened superior laryngeal nerve and/or
cricothyroid muscle. The larynx tilts toward the side of the weakness on lengthening because the
cricothyroid muscle on the normal side pulls the thyroid cartilage anteriorly (forward) and down toward the cricoid cartilage; the paretic
cricothyroid muscle is weak and pulls the thyroid cartilage to a lesser degree, resulting in tilting of the larynx towards the side of the weak superior laryngeal nerve and
cricothyroid muscle.
Mason and Zemlin revealed through electromyographic analysis that vibrato is caused by the
cricothyroid muscle. (1) The
cricothyroid muscle controls pitch in phonation by stretching the vocal folds (thyroarytenoids).
6) A higher ratio of thyroarytenoid muscle activation to
cricothyroid muscle activation during and after use of the semi-occluded postures.
Occasionally, the extralaryngeal muscles and the
cricothyroid muscles are injected to improve the tremor.