Which muscle is an intrinsic laryngeal muscle?

• A. Digastric anterior belly
• B. Cricothyroid
• C. Mylohyoid
• D. Sternohyoid

Answer: (B)

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles have their origin and insertion on laryngeal cartilages themselves, allowing them to adjust the vocal folds directly. The cricothyroid fits this role: it attaches between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages, so it can tilt the thyroid cartilage forward, lengthening and tensing the vocal cords to raise pitch. The other muscles listed are extrinsic to the larynx, connecting the larynx to outside structures like the hyoid bone or sternum; they move the larynx as a unit rather than tuning vocal fold tension. Digastric anterior belly and mylohyoid elevate the hyoid and floor of the mouth, while sternohyoid depresses the hyoid. So the muscle that is intrinsic and directly adjusts vocal fold tension is the cricothyroid.