Remarks on the Musculus Kerato-Cricoideus. 137 



tendinous fibres being found at each of these extremities. The 

 muscle appears to be developed in a direct relation to the 

 other laryngeal muscles, for the largest example I have yet 

 seen occurred in a larynx the muscles of which were unusually 

 well formed, whilst the smallest example was found in a larynx 



a Inferior cornu of thyroid, b Cricoid cartilage, c Kerato-cricoid muscie, 

 d Inferior laryngeal nerve. 



possessing comparatively feeble muscles ; at the same time, it 

 must be stated that its existence in a larynx is not necessarily 

 coincident with a general laryngeal muscularity, as I have 

 dissected more than one larynx in which no trace of Merkel's 

 muscle could be found, although the other muscles were ex- 

 tremely well developed. The inferior laryngeal nerve passes 

 under, i.e., in front of, this muscle, and sends a small filament 

 to it. The kerato-cricoideus must thus be classed amongst 

 the occasional muscles of the larynx, and, like other occasional 



