Category: Anatomy
The thyroarytenoid muscle is the deepest layer of the true vocal folds and is a critical part of the tone or timbre of vocal production.
The thyroarytenoid muscle contracts and tenses when activated. This engagement causes an increased surface area of closure between the true vocal folds producing a louder and more harmonically rich sound. This vocal production is frequently experienced through a vibratory sensation in the chest giving it the traditional term ‘chest voice’.
An increased activation from the thyroarytenoid muscles lends itself to lower fundamental frequencies and an increased muscular activation makes it more challenging to sing higher fundamental frequencies.
The thyroarytenoid muscles originate from the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage and insert into the anterior surface of the arytenoid cartilage. During activation, the thyroarytenoid muscles attempt to pull the arytenoid cartilage toward the thyroid cartilage. During this activation, the thyroarytenoid muscle is shortened, tensed, and can stiffen.
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