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The vocal folds, or vocal cords, are two muscular bands inside the voice box (or larynx) that vibrate to produce the sound of your voice. They are also involved in breathing and swallowing. The vocal folds are composed of five layers, including the thyroarytenoid muscle, deep lamina propria, intermediate lamina propria, superficial lamina propria, and the squamous epithelium. The vocalis muscle is located immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments and functions to fine-tune the tension on the vocal ligaments, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation. The vocal folds are controlled by the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which alter the shape and size of the rima glottidis to produce sound.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are vocal folds | Two muscular bands inside the voice box that produce the sound of your voice |
| Other names | Vocal cords |
| Location | Inside the voice box (larynx) |
| Functions | Phonation, acting as an inspiratory sphincter, and a component of the upper respiratory tract |
| Layers | Five layers: thyroarytenoid muscle, deep lamina propria, intermediate lamina propria, superficial lamina propria, and the squamous epithelium |
| Movement | Abduction (opening) and adduction (closing) |
| Muscle involvement in abduction | Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles |
| Muscle involvement in adduction | Lateral cricoarytenoid muscles |
| Muscle involved in forming vocal folds | Thyroarytenoid |
| Muscle involved in fine-tuning tension | Vocalis |
| Muscle condition affecting voice quality | Muscle tension dysphonia |
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What You'll Learn
Vocal folds are made up of multiple muscles and cartilage
The vocal folds, or vocal cords, are two muscular bands inside the larynx (or voice box) that vibrate to produce the sound of a person's voice. They are multilayered structures, consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering. The vocal folds are enclosed within the thyroid cartilage, which forms the Adam's apple.
The vocal folds are made up of five layers: the thyroarytenoid muscle, deep lamina propria, intermediate lamina propria, superficial lamina propria, and the squamous epithelium. The thyroarytenoid muscles form the body of the vocal folds themselves. They are the muscles that shorten the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate more slowly and produce a lower pitch.
The vocalis muscle is located immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments. It functions to fine-tune the tension on the vocal ligament, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation. The vocal folds are surrounded by other muscles and cartilage that support them in producing sound. These include the arytenoid, cuneiform, and corniculate cartilages, which lie within the larynx.
The vocal folds have two main functions: phonation (sound production) and acting as an inspiratory sphincter. They play a role in respiration by opening and closing to allow air to pass through during breathing. During swallowing, the vocal folds close to prevent food, liquid, or foreign substances from entering the windpipe.
The vocal folds can be strengthened through vocal training, which can improve neuromuscular efficiency and expand a person's vocal range. However, it is important to note that overuse of the voice, such as yelling or whispering, can lead to vocal cord injury.
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They produce voice through vibration
The vocal folds, also known as vocal cords, are two muscular bands inside the larynx (voice box) that produce the sound of your voice through vibration. The vocal folds are multilayered structures, consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering.
When you speak, your vocal cords close by meeting in the middle of your exhaled airstream and vibrate. The vibration creates the sound of your voice. The vocal folds vibrate when excited by aerodynamic phenomena; they are not plucked like a guitar string. Air pressure from the lungs controls the open phase. The passing air column creates a trailing “Bernoulli effect,” which controls the close phase.
The vocal fold vibratory cycle has phases that include an orderly sequence of opening and closing the top and bottom of the vocal folds, letting short puffs of air through at high speed. Air pressure is converted into sound waves. Vocal folds vibrate when they alternately trap air and release it. Each release sends a little puff of air into the pharynx; each puff of air is the beginning of a sound wave. The sound wave is enhanced as it travels through the pharynx; by the time it leaves the mouth, it sounds like a voice.
The speed of vibration depends on the pitch of the voice. For example, a high pitch is produced by a faster vibration, while a low pitch is produced by a slower vibration. The faster the vocal folds vibrate, the higher the pitch. Men's vocal folds vibrate at a slower rate than women's, which is why men's voices are generally deeper.
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They are controlled by the vagus nerve
The vocal folds, or vocal cords, are two bands of muscle inside the larynx (or voice box) that vibrate to produce the sound of your voice. They also help you breathe and swallow food safely. The vocal folds are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues. The outer layer is squamous, non-keratinizing epithelium. Below this is the superficial layer of the lamina propria, a gel-like layer that allows the vocal fold to vibrate and produce sound.
The vocal folds are controlled by the vagus nerve, which has two branches: the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves. The superior laryngeal nerve splits into the external laryngeal nerve and the internal laryngeal nerve. The internal laryngeal nerve travels through the thyrohyoid membrane with the superior laryngeal artery and supplies all sensation to mucosa above the vocal folds. The external laryngeal nerve, on the other hand, is the source of motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle. Its location is usually close to the superior thyroid artery and the superior pole of the thyroid.
The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the functioning of the vocal folds. It provides the primary innervation to the vocal folds, enabling them to move and produce sound. The internal and external laryngeal nerves, as branches of the vagus nerve, have specific functions in controlling the vocal folds. The internal laryngeal nerve is responsible for sensory functions, providing sensation to the mucosa above the vocal folds. This nerve can be easily accessed from beneath the medial wall of the piriform fossa for anesthesia.
Additionally, the external laryngeal nerve is responsible for motor functions, providing innervation to the cricothyroid muscle. This muscle plays a role in altering the tension of the vocal folds, which is essential for controlling the pitch and volume of the voice. By contracting or relaxing the cricothyroid muscle, the vocal folds can lengthen or shorten, allowing for a wider range of pitch and volume variation. This process occurs instinctively and rapidly during speech or singing, enabling us to produce a variety of sounds and volumes.
In summary, the vagus nerve and its branches, the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves, play a vital role in controlling the vocal folds. They facilitate sensory and motor functions, allowing for the production of a diverse range of sounds, volumes, and pitches. The internal laryngeal nerve provides sensation to the mucosa, while the external laryngeal nerve controls the cricothyroid muscle, which in turn adjusts the tension of the vocal folds. This intricate system allows for the complex and unique sounds that make up the human voice.
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They can be damaged by overuse
Vocal folds, or vocal cords, are two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are positioned opposite each other in the larynx (voice box). They produce the sound of your voice by vibrating when you speak, sing, or make other sounds. They also help you breathe and swallow food safely.
Vocal cords can be damaged by overuse, which can lead to tissue damage and other issues. This can happen when you spend too much time at the top or bottom of your vocal range (e.g. yelling or whispering). Like any other muscle, the vocal cords can get tired from extended use and require rest. Voice therapists recommend that for every 60 minutes of voice use, you should have 10 minutes of voice rest. If you frequently lose your voice by the end of the day or after an hour of singing, your vocal cords may be experiencing tissue damage. Other signs of vocal cord damage include chronic hoarseness, vocal fatigue, or pain while producing sound.
If you suspect vocal cord damage, you should see a laryngologist, who will examine your vocal cords for growths or other conditions. They may recommend voice therapy to learn techniques that reduce stress on the vocal cords and help reverse any tissue damage. Voice therapy sessions typically consist of one 45-minute session per week for four to six weeks. These techniques focus on the fundamentals of voice production and re-balancing the vocal subsystems. Additionally, it is important to avoid or limit the use of medications that may dry out the vocal cords, such as certain common cold and allergy medications.
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They can be strengthened through vocal training
The vocal folds, or vocal cords, are two muscular bands inside the larynx, or voice box, that vibrate to produce the sound of your voice. They also help you breathe and swallow food safely. The vocal folds are multilayered structures, consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering.
The vocal folds can be strengthened through vocal training. Vocal warm-ups and cool-downs, for instance, allow singers to strengthen their vocal cords and increase their range. According to voice pathologist Dr. Linda Carroll, singers need to warm up before extended or critical voice use to ensure vocal muscles are supple, prepared for precision, and not subject to strain. Warming up the abdominal, back, and neck muscles allows sound to travel up and out without getting trapped by tension.
Breathing exercises engage the respiratory and intercostal muscles, enabling singers to sustain longer notes. Moreover, preparing the articulators and resonators—the lips, teeth, and tongue, which help with articulation, and the soft palate, which creates resonation—is essential. One breathing exercise involves blowing air through a small stirring straw while phonating glides up and down through your range. The backpressure created by the resistance of the straw helps decrease puffiness, a major source of vocal trouble.
Other exercises to strengthen the vocal cords include lip trills, creaky doors, and "ngs." Lip trills involve gently blowing air through closed lips while singing an "uh" vowel. The resistance of the bubbling lips helps maintain cord closure, an important element of good singing. Creaky doors help build the coordination needed to maintain proper cord closure. To perform this exercise, make a little edgy sound, like a creaky door or a rusty gate opening, and do a scale on this sound using very little air. "Ngs" make the transition between the lower and upper registers (chest voice and head voice) easier. To do this exercise, make the "ng" sound from the word "rung," which is produced with the tongue and soft palate together.
In addition, making a repetitive "sh" sound strengthens the lower abdominal vocal support muscles and helps direct the airflow forward. This exercise also improves the coordination between the voice box and vocal support muscles, such as the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and muscles of the torso.
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Frequently asked questions
Vocal folds, also known as vocal cords, are two muscular bands inside the voice box (larynx) that produce the sound of your voice. They also help you breathe and swallow food safely.
The vocal folds comprise five layers: thyroarytenoid muscle, deep lamina propria, intermediate lamina propria, superficial lamina propria, and the squamous epithelium. The vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles make up the deepest portion.
Yes, the muscles around the vocal folds can be strengthened through vocal training and exercise.
