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The human vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside the voice box (larynx) that allow us to vocalize or make sounds. They are constructed from epithelium and have a few muscle fibres in them, namely the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles. The vocalis muscle tightens the ligament near the thyroid cartilage, while the thyroarytenoid muscles form the body of the vocal folds and are responsible for lowering the pitch. The vocal cords are surrounded by the laryngeal cartilages, which include the arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform cartilages. The vocal cords open when we breathe and close when we swallow, talk, or cough.
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What You'll Learn
Vocal cords are composed of multiple tissues and muscles
The human vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside the voice box (larynx) that allow us to vocalise or make sounds. The vocal cords are composed of multiple tissues and muscles.
The vocal cords are constructed from epithelium and have a few muscle fibres in them, namely the vocalis muscle, which tightens the front part of the ligament near the thyroid cartilage. The vocalis muscle is the innermost muscular layer of the vocal cords and includes the thyroarytenoid muscle. The vocalis muscle acts to finely tune the tension of the vocal ligament, allowing us to produce highly controlled changes in the pitch of the voice, as occurs during singing. The vocal cords also function as a sphincter to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles through the lower air respiratory tract and into the lungs.
The vocal cords are twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium); a middle layer called the lamina propria, which helps the vocal cords move; and an innermost muscular layer. The extracellular matrix of the vocal cord LP is composed of fibrous proteins such as collagen and elastin, and interstitial molecules such as HA, a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan. The superficial lamina propria is composed of few elastic or collagenous fibres, resulting in increased pliability; the intermediate lamina propria is mainly composed of elastic fibres; and the deep lamina propria is composed of more collagenous fibres.
The vocal cords are multilayered structures, consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering. The mucous membrane, consisting of mucosal epithelium, encases the vocal ligament and vocalis muscle. This forms a well-defined 'fold' of tissue located on the left and right wall of the larynx. The mucous membrane covering the vocal cords is a moist, protective lining. The vestibular folds, or false vocal folds, are a pair of thick folds of mucous membrane that protect and sit slightly higher than the more delicate true folds. They have a minimal role in normal phonation but are often used to produce deep sonorous tones in Tibetan chant and Tuvan throat singing, as well as in musical screaming and the death growl vocal style.
The length of the vocal cords affects the pitch of the voice. The vocal cords are controlled via the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve. The cricothyroid muscles function to elevate the anterior arch of the cricoid cartilage and depress the posterior portion of the thyroid cartilage lamina, producing tension and elongation of the vocal cords, resulting in higher-pitch phonation. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle abducts the vocal cords, while the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle adducts them. The interarytenoids bring the two arytenoid cartilages together to provide medial compression for the vocal folds.
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Vocal cords are involved in the airway protection and phonation
The vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside the voice box (larynx) that allow humans to vocalize or make sounds. The voice box sits atop the windpipe (trachea), the tube that allows airflow to and from the lungs. When inhaling and exhaling, the vocal cords open to allow air to flow freely.
The vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium), a middle layer called the lamina propria, and an innermost muscular layer that includes the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles. The thyroarytenoid muscles form the body of the vocal folds themselves. They are the most dense portion of the vocal fold and are responsible for shortening the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate more slowly and resulting in a lower pitch. The vocalis muscle, on the other hand, tightens the front part of the ligament near the thyroid cartilage.
The vocal cords play a crucial role in airway protection. During swallowing, they close to prevent food, liquid, or foreign substances from entering the windpipe. Additionally, the epiglottis, a soft cartilage, folds backward over the glottis (the space between the two vocal folds) to ensure that food and liquids do not go into the lungs. The epiglottis is not involved in voice production.
The vocal cords are also essential for phonation, the production of vocal sound. When speaking, the vocal cords come together and vibrate, creating the sound of an individual's voice. The vibration occurs due to the tension caused when the vocal cords touch and trap air, resulting in the production of sound through the vibration and the air combined. The pitch of the voice is determined by the length and thickness of the vocal cords, with thicker vocal cords producing a lower pitch.
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Vocal cords are involved in respiration
The vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside the larynx (voice box) that allow humans to vocalize or make sounds. The voice box sits on top of the windpipe (trachea), the tube that allows airflow to and from the lungs.
During inhalation and exhalation, the vocal cords open so that air can flow freely. When we speak, the vocal cords close by meeting in the middle of the exhaled airstream and vibrate. The vibration created by the vocal cords produces the sound of our voice. The vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium), a middle layer called the lamina propria, and an innermost muscular layer that includes the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles. The vocalis muscle, which is the main body of the vocal cords, is covered by the mucosa, which consists of the epithelium and the lamina propria.
The vocal cords are involved in respiration in several ways. Firstly, they open and close to facilitate breathing. During inhalation, the vocal cords open to allow air to pass through the larynx to the trachea and lungs. During exhalation, the vocal cords close and vibrate to produce sound. Additionally, the vocal cords protect the airway by preventing food, liquid, or foreign substances from entering the windpipe during swallowing. They also protect the airway by coughing if something moves towards the airway that shouldn't be there.
Furthermore, the vocal cords play a role in respiratory health. Conditions such as vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) or inducible laryngeal obstruction can cause the vocal cords to not open fully during inhalation, blocking the airways and leading to breathing difficulties. Laryngoscopy, pulmonary function tests, and spirometry are used to diagnose and assess VCD. Treatment options include respiratory retraining therapy, which teaches breathing exercises to help manage VCD episodes, and treating trigger conditions such as GERD and respiratory infections.
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Vocal cords are involved in swallowing
The vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside the larynx, or voice box, which allow us to vocalize or make sounds. The larynx is positioned at the front of the neck and plays a critical role in normal breathing, swallowing, and speaking.
The vocal cords are open when we breathe and closed when we swallow and talk. When we swallow, the voice box moves, directing food and liquid toward the oesophagus. The vocal cords close to prevent food, liquid, or foreign substances from entering the windpipe. The epiglottis, a soft cartilage, also serves as a protective swallowing mechanism. It folds backward over the glottis during swallowing so that food and liquids do not go into the lungs.
The vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium); a middle layer called the lamina propria, which helps the vocal cords move; and an innermost muscular layer that includes the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles. The vocalis muscle tightens the front part of the ligament near the thyroid cartilage. The thyroarytenoid muscles draw the arytenoid cartilages forward, relaxing and shortening the vocal cords, and rotating the arytenoid cartilage inward, thus adducting the vocal folds and narrowing the rima glottidis.
The vocal cords are involved in airway protection during swallowing, preventing aspiration, and ensuring food and liquid go down the oesophagus and not the windpipe.
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Vocal cords can be strengthened
The human vocal cords are two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are located in the larynx, just above the trachea, and produce sound by vibrating. The vocal cords are constructed from epithelium and have a few muscle fibres in them, including the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles. The vocalis muscle tightens the ligament near the thyroid cartilage, while the thyroarytenoid muscles form the body of the vocal folds and cause them to vibrate more slowly, thus lowering the pitch.
While the vocal cords themselves do not get stronger with practice, the muscles that support them can be strengthened with vocal exercises. These exercises help to improve muscle memory and efficiency, allowing for more results with less effort. For example, the CT TA muscle can be developed with vocal exercises that strengthen the muscles that support the vocal cords "from the top down" (head voice) and "from the bottom up" (chest voice).
Additionally, warm-up and cool-down exercises can help singers strengthen their vocal cords and increase their range. These exercises should focus on warming up the abdominal, back, and neck muscles to allow sound to travel up and out without getting trapped by tension. Breathing exercises that engage the respiratory and intercostal muscles can also help singers sustain longer notes.
Other exercises that can help strengthen vocal cords include:
- Glides through a straw: Blowing air through a small stirring straw while phonating glides up and down to help decrease puffiness in the vocal cords, a major source of vocal trouble.
- Lip trills: A variation of the straw exercise, this involves gently blowing air through closed, relaxed lips while singing an "uh" vowel underneath. The resistance of the bubbling lips helps maintain cord closure, important for good singing.
- Creaky doors: This exercise helps build the coordination needed to maintain proper cord closure.
It is important to note that vocal cords can be affected by various factors such as age, hormones, and lifestyle choices. For example, vocal cords can shrink and weaken with age, making it harder to talk. Hormones such as testosterone can also cause changes in the musculature of the larynx, resulting in deeper voices. Additionally, smoking can irritate the vocal cords and increase the risk of cancer, while spicy foods can cause stomach acid to move into the throat, leading to heartburn or GERD. Therefore, it is crucial to take care of your vocal health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeking professional guidance when needed.
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Frequently asked questions
Vocal cords are two bands of muscle inside your voice box (larynx) that allow you to vocalize or make sounds.
Vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium), a middle layer called the lamina propria, and an innermost muscular layer that includes the vocalis muscle and the thyroarytenoid muscles.
Vocal cords open when you breathe and close when you swallow and talk. They also function as a sphincter, to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles through the lower air respiratory tract and into the lungs.
The vocalis muscle, which makes up the main body of the vocal cords, is covered by the mucosa, which consists of the epithelium and the lamina propria. The latter is a pliable layer of connective tissue subdivided into three layers: the superficial layer (SL), the intermediate layer (IL), and the deep layer (DL). The vocal folds vibrate to produce the voice.
While it is unclear whether the vocal cords themselves can be strengthened, the muscles that control them can be.
