What is Thyroarytenoid Muscle?
Definition
The thyroarytenoid muscle is an intrinsic laryngeal muscle that forms the body of the vocal fold itself. It runs from the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage to the arytenoid cartilage. When it contracts, it shortens and thickens the vocal folds, lowering pitch and producing a thicker, fuller vocal quality. The medial portion of this muscle, known as the vocalis muscle, provides fine control over vocal fold tension and stiffness. The thyroarytenoid is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Why it matters
The thyroarytenoid muscle is fundamental to voice production. As the muscle that constitutes the vibrating body of the vocal fold, its tone, mass, and stiffness directly determine voice quality. When the thyroarytenoid contracts, the vocal folds become shorter, thicker, and more lax, producing lower pitches and the characteristic quality of chest voice in singing. The interplay between the thyroarytenoid and the cricothyroid is what allows pitch changes: the cricothyroid lengthens the folds to raise pitch while the thyroarytenoid shortens them to lower it. In aging voices, thyroarytenoid atrophy can lead to vocal fold bowing, breathiness, and reduced vocal power — a condition contributing to presbyphonia. Strengthening exercises can partially reverse this atrophy.
How VocalCalm helps
VocalCalm includes VFE contraction exercises specifically designed to target the thyroarytenoid muscle, along with downward pitch glides and low-pitch sustain tasks. These exercises help maintain muscle mass and coordination, which is particularly valuable for preventing age-related voice changes.
Related exercises
VFE 3: Contracting
Glide from your highest comfortable note down to your lowest on the word "knoll", shortening and thickening the vocal folds. This is the third exercise in the Vocal Function Exercise protocol, complementing the upward stretch.
VFE 4: Power
Sustain the musical notes C-D-E-F-G ascending on the word "knoll", holding each note as long as possible. This is the final exercise in the Vocal Function Exercise protocol, building adductory power and stamina.
Straw Phonation (Pitch Glides)
Glide smoothly from your lowest comfortable pitch to your highest and back down again, all while voicing through a straw. This builds on basic straw phonation by adding pitch movement to stretch and coordinate the vocal fold muscles.
VFE 7: Pitch Matching
Listen to a reference tone played by the app, then match that pitch with your voice as accurately as you can. This fundamental exercise develops pitch awareness and strengthens the neural feedback loop between hearing and laryngeal motor control.
Practice exercises for Thyroarytenoid Muscle
VocalCalm provides guided daily exercises based on the latest voice therapy research. Free for 14 days.
Start your free trial