Arytenoid cartilage

Changed by Craig Hacking, 21 Feb 2024

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Disclosures - updated 3 May 2023:

Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)

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The arytenoid cartilages are paired hyaline cartilages that articulate with the sloping upper border of the lamina of the cricoid cartilage via the synovial cricoarytenoid joint. This joint allows movement of the arytenoid cartilages, which is vital in approximating, tensing and relaxing the vocal folds. They are 2 of the 9 laryngeal cartilages.

Gross anatomy

Each cartilage is pyramidal in shape and has three projections or processes:

vocal process: forward projection that attaches to the vocal fold
muscular process: lateral projection attaches to the posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles
superior process: superior projection articulates with the very small corniculate cartilage, to which the aryepiglottic fold is attached

Slightly anteriorly to the arytenoid cartilages sit the paired cuneiform cartilages, which lie within the aryepiglottic fold.

History and etymology

The word 'arytenoid' derives from the greek word meaning ladle-shaped.

Practical points

Sclerosis of the arytenoid cartilages is often a normal variant in asymptomatic subjects on CT scan, especially when found on the left side in females and when involving the body instead of the vocal process ⁴. As such, it should not be mistaken for tumour invasion (squamous cell carcinoma), although it wouldn't upstage the lesion according to the staging system.

-<p>The <strong>arytenoid cartilages</strong> are paired hyaline cartilages that articulate with the sloping upper border of the lamina of the <a href="/articles/cricoid-cartilage">cricoid cartilage</a> via the <a href="/articles/synovial-joints" title="Synovial articulation">synovial</a> cricoarytenoid joint. This joint allows movement of the arytenoid cartilages, which is vital in approximating, tensing and relaxing the <a href="/articles/vocal-folds" title="vocal folds">vocal folds</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>Each cartilage is pyramidal in shape and has three projections or processes:</p><ul>
+<p>The <strong>arytenoid cartilages</strong> are paired hyaline cartilages that articulate with the sloping upper border of the lamina of the <a href="/articles/cricoid-cartilage">cricoid cartilage</a> via the <a href="/articles/synovial-joints" title="Synovial articulation">synovial</a> cricoarytenoid joint. This joint allows movement of the arytenoid cartilages, which is vital in approximating, tensing and relaxing the <a href="/articles/vocal-folds" title="vocal folds">vocal folds</a>. They are 2 of the 9 <a href="/articles/laryngeal-cartilages" title="Laryngeal cartilages">laryngeal cartilages.</a></p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>Each cartilage is pyramidal in shape and has three projections or processes:</p><ul>

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Arytenoid cartilage

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Gross anatomy

History and etymology

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