The
cricothyroid muscle is the only tensor muscle of the
larynx aiding with
phonation. It attaches to the anterolateral aspect of the
cricoid and the inferior
cornu and lower
lamina of the
thyroid cartilage, and its action tilts the thyroid forward to help tense the
vocal cords. Not to be confused with the
posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, which are the only muscles directly responsible for opening (abducting) the space between the vocal cords to allow for respiration.