Muscles are special structures that allow our bodies to move and maintain their position in space. One important type of muscle is the cricothyroid anterior muscle, or m. cricothyreoidea anterioris. They play an important role in breathing and can cause problems if they are damaged or underdeveloped. It is important to understand that when we talk about muscles, we are talking about a whole group of structures associated with the movement of certain parts of the body.
The muscles, cricothyroid anterior, are named after their location. In Latin, the word "cricothyricus" refers to the bony structures of the larynx or throat, and "anticus" means "anterior." Therefore, the anterior cricothyroid muscle is located in front of the larynx and plays an important role in breathing. The muscle runs through the pharynx to form part of the vocal cords and includes many small fibers that connect the same bone to another. This type of muscle is usually seen in the neck, along the top of the laryngeal arch.