lateral cricoarytenoid muscle lateral cricoarytenoid muscle the lateral cricoarytenoid (also anterior cricoarytenoid) muscles extend from the lateral cricoid cartilage to the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage. by rotating the arytenoid cartilages medially, these muscles adduct the vocal cords and thereby close the rima glottidis, protecting the airway. (their action is antagonistic to that of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.) the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles receive innervation from the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve (cn x). lateral cricoarytenoidmuscles of larynx. side view. right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.detailsoriginlateral part of the arch of the cricoidinsertionmuscular process of the arytenoid cartilagenerverecurrent laryngeal branch of the vagusactionsadduct and medially rotate the cartilage, pulling the vocal ligaments towards the midline and backwards and so closing off the rima glottidisantagonistposterior cricoarytenoid muscleidentifierslatinmusculus cricoarytaenoideus lateralista98a06.2.08.006ta22198fma46579anatomical terms of muscle additional images muscles of the larynx, seen from above.