The Vocal Cords

Sofía Flores C.

Terminología Aplicada III

2022
 What are the vocal cords?
Two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx.
 The vocal cords vibrate and air passes through the cords from the lungs to produce the sounds
of your voice.
Functions of the vocal cords

Protect Regulate Production

To protect the airway from To regulate the flow of air The production of sounds
choking on material in the into our lungs. used for speech.
throath.
How they work?
- Covered by a thin layer called mucosa.
We will talk about this
first:
Structure
We need to know what are the components of the vocal cords.
 Structure
2 main:
The vocal cords are composed of mucous membrane that stretch horizontally across the middle
laryngeal cavity. They are attached at the angle on the interior surface of the thyroid cartilage.

Larynx Epiglotis
- The larynx protect
your respiratory
tract when you are
swallowing.

- The larynx is
located in the
neck, above the
opening of the
trachea.
The Larynx
Supraglottis
Above the vocal cords, and contains the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that closes the larynx during swallowing. Its
function is to send food down the esophagus and prevents food and liquids from passing into your lungs.

Glotis
It contains the vocal cords.

Subglottis
Located below the vocal cords.
Vocal cords disorders
If the vocal cords become inflamed, swollen or paralyzed, they cannot
function properly, resulting in a voice disorder.
 Common vocal cords disorders
Vocal Polyps Check your doctor if you
Vocal Nodules
feel
Noncancerous calluses on the
vocal cords caused by vocal Pain swallowing.
abuse. Vocal nodules are often a
Dysphonic.
problem for singers.
Muscle pain in the neck.

Laryngitis

Causes a raspy or hoarse voice

due to inflammation of the
vocal cords.

BE
KI N D
 Causes
Many factors can contribute to the onset of a voice disorder, including:

- Aging

- Smoking (most common)

- Consumption of alcoholic beverages

- Allergies

- Gastroesophageal reflux disease

- Shouting

- Thyroid problems

- Using your voice wrongly or too much

- Throat cancer
 If you are suffering… you should go to

Phonoaudiologist
Otorhinolaryngologist
.They evaluate, diagnose,
Doctor promote and prevent language, Are specializes in the
To rule out anything speech, swallowing, voice and diagnosis and treatment of
serious, if you have a sore hearing disorders in people of diseases affecting the ear,
throat or trouble all ages. nose and throat, including
swallowing, it may just be the voice, salivary glands
a cold. and neck.

Resting the voice
Inflammation and irritation will
resolve faster if a person avoids
using their voice box as much as
possible
Drinking water
It could help to aliviate the
pain.
Treatment
Medicine Referral to a speech-
- Corticosteroids language pathologist who
(prednisone)
specializes in treating voice,
- Antibiotics speech, language, or
swallowing disorders.
In worst cases surgery
To remove growths
Very interesting
facts!
Did you know?
The size of vocal cords affects the pitch of voice

The muscles in the larynx further modulate the sound the

cords produce, lengthening and shortening the cords to
change the pitch.
 Th a n k y o u !

THA
NK
YOU