Cricothyroid joint

Study entry

Classification

Synovial plane joint (arthrodia), one on each side.

Surfaces

Inferior horns of the thyroid cartilage with the lateral surfaces of the cricoid cartilage.

Capsule

Joint capsule reinforced by three ligaments; the anterior runs from the tip of the inferior horn of the thyroid to the lateral surface of the arch of the cricoid.

Movements

Rotation and gliding of the thyroid cartilage, which change the length of the vocal folds. The cricothyroid muscle moves it.

Blood supply

[CHECK: Moore does not describe it in the passages consulted (look in another source).]

Innervation

[CHECK: Moore does not describe it in the passages consulted (look in another source).]

Source: cap. 9, «Esqueleto laríngeo» (fig. 9-33 B e D)

Other structures in this region

• Stylohyoid ligament
• Pterygospinous ligament
• Thyrohyoid membrane (median and lateral thyrohyoid ligaments)
• Median cricothyroid ligament
• Cricoarytenoid joint
• Joints of the auditory ossicles (incudomalleolar and incudostapedial)
• Gomphosis (dentoalveolar syndesmosis)
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)