Its action tilts the thyroid forward to help tense the vocal cords, thus increasing the pitch of the voice.

The oblique part travels posterolaterally and inserts onto the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage.

The straight part travels posterosuperiorly and inserts onto the inferior margin of the lamina of the thyroid cartilage.

[3][4] The cricothyroid muscle produces tension and elongation of the vocal cords.

[6] The cricothyroid muscles may be injected with botulinum toxin whilst treating spasmodic dysphonia.