Which muscle is located superficially to the transverse arytenoid?

The oblique arytenoid muscle is indeed the correct answer because it is positioned superficially to the transverse arytenoid muscle within the larynx. The oblique arytenoid muscle runs diagonally between the arytenoid cartilages, and it works to bring the arytenoid cartilages together, which contributes to the closing of the vocal folds during phonation.

In the context of laryngeal muscles, understanding their spatial relationships is crucial for grasping how they interact during speech production. The transverse arytenoid muscle, which is also involved in adducting the vocal folds, sits deeper within the larynx compared to the oblique arytenoids. This depth difference is important in both anatomical studies and clinical applications, where knowledge of muscle placements can aid in understanding laryngeal function and potential impairments.

While the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle is involved in adducting the arytenoids as well, it is not located superficially to the transverse arytenoid. The thyroarytenoid muscle, surrounding the vocal fold area, is more anteriorly located and not directly associated in terms of superficial layering with the transverse arytenoid. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, responsible