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The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx (voice box). They are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues, with the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles making up the deepest portion. The vocal cords vibrate when air passes through them from the lungs, producing the sound of our voice. The pitch of the sound produced can be altered by contracting or relaxing the muscles to lengthen or shorten the cords.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are vocal cords? | Paired structures located in the larynx, just above the trachea |
| What are they composed of? | Twin infoldings of 3 distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium), a superficial layer of the lamina propria, and the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles |
| What is their function? | They vibrate and are brought in contact during phonation |
| What is their size? | 12-24mm in length and 3-5mm in thickness |
| Are they muscles? | Yes, they are composed of smooth muscle tissue |
| Can they be strengthened? | Yes, the muscles around the vocal folds can be strengthened |
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What You'll Learn
- Vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues
- The deepest portion is made up of the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles
- Vocal cords are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx
- The pitch of the voice can be controlled by the vocalis muscle
- The vocal cords also function as a sphincter to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles
Vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues
The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are paired structures located in the larynx, just above the trachea. They are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues. The outer layer is made up of flat cells that do not produce keratin (squamous epithelium). This layer is crucial for protecting the underlying tissues from abrasion caused by the rapid movement of air during breathing and phonation.
The second layer, or the superficial layer of the lamina propria, is a gel-like layer that allows the vocal folds to vibrate and produce sound. This layer is composed of fewer elastic and collagenous fibres, resulting in increased pliability. The third layer is composed of the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles, which make up the deepest portion of the vocal folds. These muscles are responsible for fine-tuning the tension on the vocal ligaments, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation in the voice.
The vocal folds are covered by a mucous membrane, which consists of the epithelium and the lamina propria. The lamina propria, in turn, is a pliable layer of connective tissue that is subdivided into three layers: the superficial layer (SLP), the intermediate layer (ILP), and the deep layer (DLP). The SLP has the fewest elastic and collagenous fibres, making it looser and more pliable. The ILP is primarily composed of elastic fibres, while the DLP contains more collagenous fibres.
The vocal cords develop during the fourth week of embryonic development from both the endoderm and mesoderm. In males, the influence of testosterone during puberty causes changes in the cartilages and musculature of the larynx, resulting in the lengthening and rounding of the vocal folds. This process leads to irreversible changes in the voice, which can only be altered through reconstructive surgery.
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The deepest portion is made up of the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles
The vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues. The deepest portion is made up of the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles. The vocalis muscle is located immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments. It runs from the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage to the ipsilateral vocal ligament. The thyroarytenoid muscle is a broad, thin muscle that forms the body of the vocal fold and supports the wall of the ventricle and its appendix. It arises in front of the lower half of the angle of the thyroid cartilage and from the middle cricothyroid ligament. Its fibres pass backward and laterally, to be inserted into the base and anterior surface of the arytenoid cartilage.
The vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles work together to regulate the length and tension of the vocal folds. The thyroarytenoid muscle is involved in producing speech. It draws the arytenoid cartilages forward toward the thyroid, thus relaxing and shortening the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle acts to finely tune the tension of the vocal ligament, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation.
The vocal cords are surrounded by the laryngeal cartilages. The vocal folds divide the larynx into three parts. The section of the larynx situated superior to the vocal folds is the laryngeal vestibule, or supraglottic cavity. The section below the folds is the infraglottic cavity. A small middle chamber of the larynx is located between the vestibular folds and vocal folds.
The vocal folds are multilayered structures consisting of a muscle covered by a mucosal covering. The mucosal covering is divided into three sections: deep, intermediate, and superficial. The vocalis muscle, 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, the intermediate layer, and the deep layer.
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Vocal cords are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx
The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are indeed two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx, or voice box. The larynx is located at the top of the trachea. The vocal cords are surrounded by the laryngeal cartilages, which include three large unpaired cartilages (thyroid, cricoid and epiglottis) and three smaller paired cartilages (arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform). The vocal cords are attached at the back to the arytenoid cartilages and at the front to the thyroid cartilage via the Broyles ligament. 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 superficial layer of the lamina propria, a gel-like layer that allows the vocal fold to vibrate and produce sound; and the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles, which make up the deepest portion.
The vocalis muscle is located immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments and functions to fine-tune the tension on them. This action allows for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation in the voice. The thyroarytenoid muscle, also known as the vocalis muscle, is the innermost and most dense portion of the vocal fold. It runs the entire length of the vocal fold and is surrounded by a sheath of mucosal tissue. The mucous membrane covering the vocal folds is stretched horizontally from back to front across the larynx.
The vocal cords vibrate and air passes through them from the lungs to produce the sound of our voice. The pitch of the sound produced can be altered by contracting or relaxing the vocal cords to lengthen or shorten them. The cricothyroid muscles, for example, act to tighten the vocal ligaments, resulting in a higher pitch. Conversely, muscles that relax the vocal ligaments will lower the pitch. The vocal cords also function as a sphincter to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles through the lower respiratory tract and into the lungs.
The vocal cords are susceptible to various disorders caused by abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, coughing, or yelling, as well as smoking and inhaling irritants. Symptoms of vocal cord disorders include hoarseness, changes in voice quality, and difficulty swallowing or coughing.
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The pitch of the voice can be controlled by the vocalis muscle
The pitch of the voice is determined by the fundamental frequency of vibration of the vocal folds, which is influenced by various factors, including the tension and length of the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle, located within the vocal folds, plays a crucial role in fine-tuning the tension of the vocal ligament, allowing for precise control over the pitch of the voice.
The vocalis muscle is part of the thyroarytenoid muscle, which forms the deepest portion of the vocal folds. The vocalis muscle is positioned immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments, running from the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage to the ipsilateral vocal ligament. By selectively tensing or relaxing the anterior or posterior part of the vocal ligament, the vocalis muscle enables a wider range of pitch and intensity variations in the voice.
When the vocalis muscle contracts, it increases the tension on the vocal ligament, resulting in a higher pitch. Conversely, when it relaxes, it decreases the tension, leading to a lower pitch. This fine-tuning of tension allows for subtle and controlled changes in pitch, as required during singing or speaking with different inflections.
The vocalis muscle works in coordination with other muscles in the larynx, such as the cricothyroid muscle, to produce a wide range of pitches and sound qualities. The cricothyroid muscle, innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve, acts to tighten the vocal ligaments and increase tension, resulting in a higher pitch. On the other hand, the thyroarytenoid muscle, part of which is the vocalis muscle, relaxes the vocal ligaments and decreases tension, causing a lower pitch.
The complex interplay between the vocalis muscle, the cricothyroid muscle, and other laryngeal muscles, such as the interarytenoid and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles, allows for precise control over the pitch and quality of the voice. This coordination enables individuals to produce a variety of sounds, from speaking with different intonations to singing across different registers.
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The vocal cords also function as a sphincter to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles
The vocal cords, also known as the vocal folds, are two bands of muscle inside the larynx (or voice box) that enable us to produce sound through phonation. The vocal cords are composed of twin infoldings of three distinct tissues: an outer layer of flat cells (squamous epithelium), a middle layer (lamina propria) and an inner muscular layer (that includes the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles). The vocalis muscle is located immediately lateral to the vocal ligaments and functions to fine-tune the tension on the vocal ligament, allowing for a wider range of pitch and intensity variation. The vocal cords are surrounded by laryngeal cartilages, including the thyroid, cricoid and epiglottis.
The vocal cords have two main functions: phonation and acting as an inspiratory sphincter. They are a component of the upper respiratory tract and play a role in respiration. The vocal cords function as a sphincter to prevent the inhalation of liquid or particles through the lower respiratory tract and into the lungs. During regular breathing, the vocal folds and rima glottidis are relaxed and open, allowing for the movement of air through the laryngeal cavity and into the lower respiratory tract. However, when the vocal cords sense liquid or particles, all intrinsic muscles of the larynx reflexively contract, the vocal folds are adducted tightly together, and the arytenoid cartilages are brought closer to the epiglottis. This movement occurs in addition to the closure of the larynx by the epiglottis, which helps direct food and liquid towards the oesophagus during swallowing.
The vocal cords also play a protective role by coughing if something moves towards the airway that shouldn't be there. This helps to clear the airway when sick. Furthermore, the vocal cords can alter the pitch and intensity of the sounds produced by changing the level of tension within the vocal folds and the expiratory effort. For example, the cricothyroid muscles act to tighten the vocal ligaments, resulting in a higher pitch. Conversely, muscles that relax the vocal ligaments, such as the thyroarytenoid muscles, will lower the pitch.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the vocal cords are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx (voice box).
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). Below this is the superficial layer of the lamina propria, a gel-like layer, which allows the vocal cords to vibrate and produce sound. The vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles make up the deepest portion.
The vocalis muscle acts to finely tune the tension of the vocal ligament. This action allows us to produce highly controlled changes in the pitch of the voice, as occurs during singing.
Adult male voices are usually lower-pitched due to longer and thicker vocal folds. The male's vocal folds are between 1.75 cm and 2.5 cm in length, while females' vocal folds are between 1.25 cm and 1.75 cm in length.
Some common vocal cord disorders include vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, coughing, or yelling. Smoking and inhaling irritants are also considered vocal abuse. Symptoms can include changes in your normal voice, such as a raspy or hoarse voice.
