How does your voice come out? Let's learn about the glottis!

We all talk, sing, and make various sounds. But have you ever wondered where in our throat this voice comes from? There is a small but very important part inside our throat that is responsible for this. Today we are talking about that part called the 'glottis'. This is the main place that keeps the secret of our voice.

Simply put, what is this glottis?

Imagine that you have a "voice box" inside your throat. In medical terms, we call this the larynx. The middle part inside the larynx is what we call the glottis. This is the main area that controls the two vocal folds or vocal cords that make up your voice and the space between them.

Many people think of the larynx as just a box with two pieces of tissue that make up the voice box. But those vocal cords are actually located in a part called the glottis. It is thanks to this glottis and the vocal cords that you can speak and communicate with your own unique voice.

Three main things that the glottis does to our body

This small part of our body does a lot more work than we think. Look at these things.

• Helps with breathing: Normally, when you breathe, your vocal cords are folded into a "V" shape. When you breathe in through your nose or mouth, air passes through these folded vocal cords and into your lungs, along your windpipe. When you breathe out, the vocal cords are folded in the same way.

• Prevents food from going into the lungs: When you swallow, a small flap called the epiglottis, located above the glottis, closes the entrance to the larynx. This allows the food to go straight into the food tube. At the same time, as a second safety measure, the two vocal cords inside the glottis close tightly. This completely blocks any food from going into the lungs.

• Helps create voice and sound: When you start to speak or sing, your vocal cords close together. Then, the air that comes out of your lungs passes under these closed vocal cords and pushes them. When the air flow is fast enough, it causes the vocal cords to vibrate rapidly. This vibration creates sound waves that allow you to speak.

A little experiment: What is a glottal stop?

This will help you better understand how the glottis works. Imagine you say "uh-oh" in English. When you say it, the "uh" ends and the "oh" starts, it feels like the air in the middle of your throat suddenly stops, doesn't it? At that moment, your vocal cords suddenly close. The sound starts, stops inside the glottis, and starts again. Although many sounds start in the glottis, they change inside our mouths and noses before coming out. But in this case, the sound starts and stops inside the glottis.

Where is the glottis located and what are its parts?

The glottis is located in the front of your neck, just behind your Adam's apple. The larynx, which we talked about earlier, has three parts. The glottis is the middle part.

• Supraglottis: This is the upper part of the larynx. The epiglottis is located in this part.
• Glottis: This is the middle part where we speak. The vocal cords are located here.
• Subglottis: This is the lowest part of the larynx. It connects to the windpipe.

Main parts of the glottis

There are two main structures inside the glottis:

1. Vocal cords: These are the two muscular tissues that control the pitch of your voice. Larger, thicker vocal cords produce a lower pitch, while smaller, thinner vocal cords produce a higher pitch.

2. Rima glottidis: This refers to the opening, or space, between the two vocal cords. When this space opens, air moves back and forth. When it closes, speech sound is produced.

In addition, the glottis contains cartilage, ligaments, and muscles that support and move the vocal cords.

What are the conditions that affect the glottis?

Like every other organ, the glottis can be affected by various medical conditions. Let's take a look at what they are.

Other common conditions affecting the glottis

• Laryngitis - This is the most common.
• Muscle tension dysphonia
• Vocal cord nodules, polyps and cysts
• Vocal cord paralysis or paresis

Symptoms that can indicate a problem with the glottis

If you have symptoms like these, it could be a problem with the glottis.

• Hoarseness or change in voice.
• Feeling pain or discomfort when swallowing or speaking.
• A persistent sore throat or cough.
• Difficulty swallowing food (Dysphagia).
• Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea).

How does a doctor diagnose and treat these?

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT specialist). They may perform tests such as:

• Laryngoscopy or Videostroboscopy: A thin tube with a special camera is inserted through the nose or mouth to carefully examine the glottis and vocal cords.
• CT scan or MRI scan: Tests to see if there are any problems with internal structures.
• Biopsy: If cancer is suspected, a small piece of tissue is taken and examined.

Treatment methods vary depending on the condition.

• Giving medicine for infections and inflammation.
• Voice therapy.
• Giving the voice a rest (not talking or singing).
• In some cases , surgery.

How do you protect your voice and glottis?

Protecting your voice is really just protecting your glottis. Try to follow these simple steps.

• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: Both increase the risk of glottic cancer. They also dry out the vocal cords and make them more easily damaged.
• Drink plenty of water: When your body is well hydrated, your vocal cords don't have to work as hard to vibrate. This makes it easier to speak. It also helps thin the mucus in your throat, reducing the need to clear your throat frequently.
• Protect yourself from respiratory infections: Wash your hands often. Stay away from people who have colds.
• Stay away from things that are harmful to the throat: Stay away from environments with a lot of dust and chemicals as much as possible.
• Don't strain your voice: If your voice is hoarse, stop speaking for a while. Reduce shouting and loud speaking as much as possible.