The vocal folds move similar to a car's windshield wipers that are attached to the middle of the windshield and open outwards. (See figure below.)

• The front ends of both vocal folds are anchored to the front-middle (anterior commissure).
• The back ends of both vocal folds are anchored to the arytenoid cartilages.
• When arytenoids are moved to the open position by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, vocal folds open, resulting in glottal opening.
• When arytenoids are closed by the lateral cricoarytenoid and inter arytenoid muscles, vocal folds are brought to the midline resulting in glottal closure.