What happens during the action of abduction of the arytenoids?

During the action of abduction of the arytenoids, the arytenoid cartilages move apart from each other, resulting in the vocal cords being pulled away from the midline. This movement is essential for allowing airflow during breathing, as it opens the glottis, the space between the vocal cords. When the arytenoids are rocked back towards their axis, this abduction effectively separates the vocal cords, contributing to their relaxation and elongation in their neutral position.

This action contrasts with adduction, where the arytenoids move closer together, bringing the vocal cords together for phonation. The rocking motion of the arytenoids during abduction is critical to understanding vocal fold dynamics, as it influences both the position of the vocal folds and their ability to produce sound when adducted for speech.