| Term | Definition |
| thyroarytenoid (origin at thyroid cartilage and inserts into vocal process of arytenoid cartilage) | body of vocal fold; vocal fold shortening and thickening |
| cricothyroid muscle | vocal fold elongation (primary antagonist to thyroarytenoid) |
| lateral cricoarytenoid | vocal fold adduction (closes vocal processes; still open in back) |
| interarytenoid (transverse/oblique) | vocal fold adduction (closes posterior of glottis) |
| aryepiglottic muscle | origin at arytenoid; folding epiglottis to close airway (swallowing) |
| thyroepiglottic muscle | origin at thyroid; folding the epiglottis to close airway (swallowing) |
| posterior cricoarytenoid | vocal fold abduction |