Relating to or connecting the cricoid cartilage and the thyroid cartilage in the larynx.
From 'cricoid' (ring-shaped cartilage) plus 'thyreoid' or 'thyroid' (shield-shaped gland, from Greek thyreoid). This anatomical term describes the connection between two key laryngeal structures.
The cricothyroid muscle is the only intrinsic laryngeal muscle supplied by the external branch of the vagus nerve (instead of the recurrent laryngeal nerve), making it unique among voice box muscles—singers actually feel these muscles working when they change pitch.
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