Victor Forge
The human voice is a complex physiological phenomenon that involves the coordination of various muscles, cartilages, nerves, and tissues. At the centre of it all is the larynx, commonly known as the voice box, which houses the vocal cords or vocal folds. The intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which start and end within the voice box, are responsible for producing sound and form the core of the vocal cords. The extrinsic muscles, or strap muscles, provide support to the larynx and help adjust its position within the throat. The thyroarytenoid muscle, in particular, plays a crucial role in closing the glottis and regulating vocal fold tension during speech and singing. Understanding the intricate interplay of these muscles and their impact on vocal production is essential for both scientific research and artistic exploration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voice box/Larynx | Houses the vocal cords |
| Manipulates pitch and volume | |
| Involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea | |
| Consists of 3 main cartilages (one is paired), 1 bone, and 5 muscle groups | |
| Vocal cords/folds | Folds of tissue in the throat that create sounds through vocalization |
| The size of the vocal folds affects the pitch of the voice | |
| The vocal folds open for breathing and vibrate for speech and singing | |
| The vocal folds are controlled by the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve | |
| The vocal ligament is composed of the thyroarytenoid muscle, which helps close the glottis and regulate tension during speaking and singing | |
| The medial portion of the thyroarytenoid muscle is also called the "vocalis muscle" | |
| The lateral cricoarytenoid and inter-arytenoid muscles bring the vocal folds to the midline, resulting in glottal closure | |
| The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle opens the vocal folds | |
| The cricothyroid muscle helps change the tension and pressure of the vocal folds, altering the pitch of the voice | |
| The intrinsic muscles are responsible for the production of sound and comprise the core of the vocal cords | |
| The extrinsic muscles, or strap muscles, support the larynx and change its position within the throat |
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What You'll Learn
The larynx, vocal cords and vocal folds
The larynx, or voice box, is a hollow tube in the middle of the neck, just above the trachea (windpipe) and oesophagus. It is involved in breathing, swallowing, and creating sound. The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sound. The vocal cords are also known as vocal folds, and they are two bands of muscle inside the larynx. The vocal cords open when breathing, and they close when swallowing and talking.
The vocal cords are controlled by the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve travels down into the chest and back up into the neck to end at the larynx. The intrinsic muscles of the larynx are responsible for the production of sound and comprise the core of the vocal cords. The intrinsic muscles start and end in the larynx and are thus named according to the cartilages to which they are attached. The cricoid cartilage is the only full cartilage ring within the larynx, and it serves as a base for the arytenoid cartilages to articulate via a ball-and-socket joint. The arytenoid cartilages are attached to the back ends of the vocal folds. When the arytenoids are moved to the open position by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, the vocal folds open, and when they are closed by the lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles, the vocal folds are brought to the midline, resulting in glottal closure.
The vocal folds comprise five layers: the thyroarytenoid muscle, deep lamina propria, intermediate lamina propria, superficial lamina propria, and the squamous epithelium. The thyroarytenoid muscle helps close the glottis and regulate tension during speaking and/or singing. The medial portion of this muscle is also called the vocalis muscle. The deep and intermediate lamina propria are grouped to form the vocal ligament, and the superficial layer provides a gelatinous surface upon which the vocal folds vibrate.
The size of the vocal folds affects the pitch of the voice. When air passes through the closed vocal folds, they vibrate and produce "voiced" sounds, such as the vowels in "pit" or "cat." The cricothyroid muscle, which runs from the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage, helps to change the tension and pressure of the thyroarytenoid muscle, altering the pitch of the voice.
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How the voice is produced
The production of voice involves a three-step process. Firstly, a column of air pressure is moved towards the vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, which are folds of tissue in the throat and the main vibratory component of the voice box. The air is moved out of the lungs and towards the vocal folds by the coordinated action of the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, chest muscles, and rib cage.
Secondly, the vocal folds vibrate, leading to sounds that we call voice. The vibrations are caused by aerodynamic phenomena, which create a trailing Bernoulli effect, controlling the open and closed phases of the vocal folds. The vocal ligament, composed of the thyroarytenoid muscle, helps to regulate tension during this process. The vocal fold vibratory cycle has phases that include an orderly sequence of opening and closing the top and bottom of the vocal folds, allowing short puffs of air through at high speed.
Thirdly, the vocal tract resonators (the throat, mouth cavity, and nasal passages) amplify and modify the sound, allowing it to take on the distinctive qualities of an individual's voice. The tongue, soft palate, and lips then modify the voiced sound to produce recognisable words.
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The role of the diaphragm
The diaphragm is a vital muscle for voice control. It is a dominant muscle of respiration and plays a crucial role in the production of voice. The diaphragm works in coordination with the abdominal and chest muscles to facilitate airflow from the lungs. This airflow is then directed through the larynx, or voice box, which houses the vocal cords.
The diaphragm's primary function is to contract and relax to facilitate breathing. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, creating a vacuum in the chest cavity, which pulls air into the lungs. During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its dome-shaped position, pushing air out of the lungs. This process of inhalation and exhalation creates the airflow necessary for voice production.
When we speak, the diaphragm controls the airflow from the lungs, ensuring a steady and consistent flow of air through the larynx. This airflow is crucial for the vibration of the vocal cords, which produce sound. The diaphragm's ability to regulate airflow allows for the subtle nuances of speech, including the articulation of different linguistic sounds and the projection of the voice.
In addition to its role in respiration and airflow, the diaphragm also contributes to the overall quality of the voice. The diaphragm's movement and position can influence the tension and pressure on the vocal cords, affecting the pitch and volume of the voice. This is particularly important for singers, who must be able to control their diaphragm to achieve the desired tonal qualities in their singing voice.
Furthermore, the diaphragm plays a protective role in the vocal mechanism. Along with the vocal cords, the diaphragm helps prevent unwanted particles from entering the lungs. This protective function is essential for maintaining respiratory health and ensuring that foreign substances do not interfere with the voice production process.
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Intrinsic and extrinsic muscles
The ability to produce voice starts with airflow from the lungs, which is coordinated by the diaphragm and abdominal and chest muscles. The larynx, or voice box, is an organ located in the anterior neck. It is involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The larynx consists of several basic anatomic parts, including intrinsic and extrinsic muscles.
The intrinsic muscles of the larynx are responsible for the production of sound and comprise the core of the vocal cords. They act to close the inlet of the larynx by drawing down the epiglottis so that its lower half makes contact with the arytenoids, protecting the trachea from swallowed material. The intrinsic muscles also control the shape of the rima glottidis (the opening between the vocal folds and the arytenoid cartilages), as well as the length and tension of the vocal folds. All but one intrinsic muscle of the larynx is supplied by the inferior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The exception is the cricothyroid muscle, which is supplied by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, also derived from the vagus nerve. The cricothyroid muscle stretches and tenses the vocal ligaments, helping to create forceful speech and alter the tone of voice.
The extrinsic muscles of the larynx, also known as the strap muscles, help to support the larynx and have their termination points elsewhere in the throat. They change the position of the larynx within the throat, moving it superiorly and inferiorly. The extrinsic muscles also act to elevate or depress the larynx during swallowing.
Some of the specific intrinsic muscles of the larynx include the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, posterior cricoarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, transverse arytenoid, oblique arytenoid, and vocalis muscles. The thyroarytenoid muscle helps to close the glottis and regulate tension during speaking and singing, while the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is the sole abductor of the vocal folds, allowing for the widening of the rima glottidis. The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are the major adductors of the vocal folds, pulling the arytenoid cartilages together to bring about phonation.
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Laryngeal muscle control
The muscles of the larynx are divided into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic muscles are attached to the hyoid bone and move the thyroid cartilage. They include the infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscles. The infrahyoid muscles attach to the lower larynx and the inferior aspect of the hyoid bone and include the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles, which work to lower the larynx and hyoid bone. The suprahyoid muscles, on the other hand, attach to the superior aspect of the hyoid bone and function to fixate and elevate the hyoid bone and the larynx. They include the stylohyoid, digastric, and mylohyoid muscles. The stylopharyngeus muscle is also considered an extrinsic muscle, although it does not attach directly to the hyoid bone.
The intrinsic laryngeal muscles, on the other hand, act on the individual components of the larynx, controlling the shape of the rima glottidis (the opening between the vocal folds and arytenoid cartilages), and the length and tension of the vocal folds. They are responsible for producing speech sounds and include adductors (lateral cricoarytenoid and transverse arytenoid), abductors (posterior cricoarytenoid), sphincters (transverse arytenoid, oblique arytenoid, and aryepiglottic), muscles that tense the vocal cords (cricothyroid), and muscles that relax the vocal cords (thyroarytenoid and vocalis).
The cricothyroid muscle, also known as the "singer's muscle," is an intrinsic muscle that stretches and tenses the vocal ligaments, altering the tone of voice. It is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, which is derived from the vagus nerve. The thyroarytenoid muscle, meanwhile, helps close the glottis and regulate vocal fold tension during speaking and singing. It is innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
The lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are the major adductors of the vocal folds, narrowing the rima glottidis and modulating the tone and volume of speech. They are innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve. The transverse and oblique arytenoid muscles are also adductors, closing the posterior portion of the rima glottidis and narrowing the laryngeal inlet. They are innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve as well.
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Frequently asked questions
The voice box, or larynx, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration.
Vocal cords, or vocal folds, are folds of tissue in the throat that vibrate to create sounds through vocalization. The vocal cords are housed within the voice box.
The thyroarytenoid muscle helps close the glottis and regulate the tension of the vocal cords during speaking and/or singing. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is the only muscle capable of separating the vocal cords for normal breathing.
The voice box consists of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for sound production and comprise the core of the vocal cords. The extrinsic muscles support the larynx and change its position within the throat.
Voice production begins with airflow from the lungs, coordinated by the diaphragm and abdominal and chest muscles. As air passes through the vocal cords, they vibrate and produce "voiced" sounds. The cricothyroid muscle helps change the tension and pressure of the vocal cords, altering the pitch of the voice.
