The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are composed of twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the human larynx. They vibrate, modulating the flow of air being expelled from the lungs during phonation.
Open during breathing, the folds are controlled via the arytenoid cartilages for speech or singing. They are white because of poor blood circulation.
The folds vibrate when they are closed to obstruct the airflow through the glottis, the space between the folds: they are forced open by increased air pressure in the lungs, and closed again as the air rushes past the folds, lowering the pressure (Bernoulli's principle). A person's voice pitch is determined by the resonant frequency of the vocal folds. In an adult male this frequency averages about 125 Hz, adult females around 210, in children the frequency is over 300 Hz.
The sound the vocalcords produce is then sent through the throat, nose, and mouth, giving the sound "resonance." The sound of each individual voice is determined by the size and shape of the vocalcords and the size and shape of the throat, nose, and mouth (the resonating cavities).
Vocalcord disorders are often caused by vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, smoking, coughing, yelling, or inhaling irritants.
Vocal nodules are benign (non-cancerous) growths on the vocalcords caused by vocal abuse.
The sound the vocalcords produce is then sent through the throat, nose, and mouth, giving the sound "resonance." The sound of each individual voice is determined by the size and shape of the vocalcords and the size and shape of the throat, nose, and mouth (the resonating cavities).
Vocalcord disorders are often caused by vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, smoking, coughing, yelling, or inhaling irritants.
Vocal nodules are benign (non-cancerous) growths on the vocalcords caused by vocal abuse.
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