vocalis (muscle)

vo·ca·lis (mus·cle)

[TA] intrinsic muscle of the larynx formed by several of the finer and most medial fibers of the thyroaryteroid muscle attached directly to the outer side of the vocal ligament; origin, depression between the two laminae of thyroid cartilage; insertion, portions of vocal ligament and vocal process of arytenoid; action, shortens and relaxes portions of vocal cords; nerve supply, recurrent laryngeal. Synonym(s): musculus vocalis [TA], musculus thyroarytenoideus internus, vocal muscle