The cricoid cartilage serves to maintain airway patency, forms part of the larynx, and provides an attachment point for key muscles, ligaments, and cartilage, which function in the opening and closing the vocal cords for sound production.

Is the cricoid cartilage the Adam's apple?

The thyroid cartilage is here, below the hyoid bone. The cricoid cartilage is here, just below the thyroid cartilage. ... In the male, the thyroid cartilage projects forwards, giving rise to the laryngeal prominence, also known as the “adam's apple”.

What does the Arytenoid cartilage do?

The arytenoid cartilages help move the vocal folds allowing tension, relaxation, or approximation of these because the vocal folds, being attached to the arytenoids, move along with them. Several intrinsic laryngeal muscles and ligaments are also attached to the arytenoids and can move them around.