The arytaenoideus obliquus muscle is one of the muscles that belong to the laryngeal musculature. It is one of the internal laryngeal muscles. It narrows the glottis so that voice production can occur.
What is the arytaenoideus obliquus muscle?
The larynx is responsible for the formation of the voice. It is located in the upper part of the neck and is set in motion by internal as well as external muscles. The arytaenoideus obliquus muscle is one of the muscles that belongs to the internal laryngeal muscles. The larynx has a vertical shape and is surrounded by cartilage. The arytaenoideus obliquus muscle is located in the lower region. This region is called the caritas laryngis intermedia. The glottis is located there. This is also called the rima glottidis. The glottis has the shape of a slit-shaped space. It is located between the vocal folds, which are called plicae vocales. Together with the arytaenoideus transversus muscle, the arytaenoideus obliquus muscle is responsible for closing the glottis. As the muscle contracts, it constricts the pars intercartilaginea. This is an area of the glottis located between two processes of the stellate cartilages. The two processes approach each other through the muscle, allowing phonation or speech formation.
Anatomy and structure
The larynx is called the larynx. It is essentially made up of cartilage, fibers, and muscles. Its function is to separate the trachea from the esophagus. The larynx is divided into three areas, which can be distinguished figuratively like stories. They include the supraglottis at the top, the glottis in the middle and the subglottis at the bottom. The shape of the larynx is created by the cartilaginous framework surrounding it. This is composed of various elements. They include the Cartilago cricoidea, the Cartilago thyroidea, the Cartilago epiglottica and the Cartilagines arytaenideae. The last of the four elements is the stellate cartilage, also known as the ary cartilage. The arytaenoideus obliquus muscle originates at its level. It starts at the posterior surface of the arytenoid cartilage and pulls to the opposite side. The arytaenoideus obliquus muscle is supplied by two nerves. These are the inferior laryngeal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Both are branches of the X. Cranial nerve, the vagus nerve. This is responsible, among other things, for supplying the head and neck region.
Function and tasks
The larynx is completely surrounded by a layered cartilaginous framework. There are a total of four different cartilages in these layers. Each of them has different functions in the activity of the larynx. The stellate cartilages are significantly involved in voice formation. The process of phonation is very complex and must be learned. It requires several muscles. One of them is the arytenoideus obliquus muscle. In order for a sound to be produced, parts of the stellate cartilage must be contracted. This process is performed by the arytenoideus obliquus muscle. The course of the fibers of the muscle is diagonal along the stellate cartilage. If the muscle contracts, the cartilages it surrounds move closer together. This automatically brings the vocal folds closer together. The approximation of the vocal folds are the prerequisite to enable phonation. This applies to both the singing and the speaking voice. If there is a functional failure of the arytenoideus obliquus muscle, the voice automatically becomes slightly hoarse. Phonotation involves the production of voluntary and controlled sounds. For phonotation to work, several coordinated processes are required. These include hearing, a continuous flow of air, an intact oral, nasal and pharyngeal cavity, and the glottis and vocal folds. The so-called embouchure tube is located in the area of the oral, nasal and pharyngeal cavity. Only when all components interact with each other does phonation occur.
Diseases
Diseases of all kinds in which hoarseness is an accompanying symptom have an effect on voice production. Hoarseness is referred to as dysponia. It is a voice disorder. The vocal cords can no longer vibrate freely. This results in an impure or busy voice. This is accompanied by a changed sound pattern. This is usually described as rough. Infections of the respiratory tract due to diseases such as bronchitis or allergic reactions can trigger hoarseness.The most common diseases affecting the larynx are laryngitis, the formation of laryngeal carcinoma and inflammation of the trachea. Laryngitis can be chronic or acute. Both cause hoarseness and an irritating cough. Carcinoma can develop in any part of the larynx. Regardless of the site of origin, laryngeal carcinoma affects the vocal cords and phonation. The same happens with the development of benign neoplasms in the laryngeal area. These can be cysts as well as edema. In the case of inflammation of the trachea, there is coughing, hoarseness and narrowing of the airways. This affects the activity of the larynx as well as phonation. Smoking, toxic substances, gases, traumatic conditions as well as paralysis of the vocal cords have an impact on the functioning of the larynx as well as the glottis. Trauma can be induced by intubation or surgery to the trachea or larynx. Intubations are performed in intensive care as well as rescue medicine. Depending on the circumstances and condition of the patient, trauma sometimes occurs during long intubations or intubations performed under dramatic circumstances.
