Want to know everything about the vocal cords that give life to your voice?

We all have our own unique voice, don't we? Sometimes, even if we don't see someone, we recognize them by the way they speak. So, have you ever wondered how our voice is formed? What little thing in our body helps with that? The answer is the vocal cords . Today, we'll talk about these wonderful vocal cords, their function, and how to keep them healthy.

What are the vocal cords? Simply put...

Simply put, your vocal cords are two bands of muscle located in a small box-like area in your throat called the larynx . This larynx is located above your trachea , the tube that carries air to your lungs when you breathe.

When you breathe in and out, these two vocal cords relax, allowing air to pass through freely. But when you start to speak, these two vocal cords come closer together, and the breath you exhale vibrates together in the middle. That vibration is what comes out as your voice.

Many doctors call these "vocal folds" rather than "vocal cords ." There's a reason for that. In the past, people thought of them as two strings on a musical instrument that made sound when they were struck. But now we know that they're not just two strings, but rather a series of interconnected muscles and cartilages. Strictly speaking, they're not single structures, but rather connected to various muscles and cartilages inside the larynx.

What are the most important things that the vocal cords do?

The main thing is to produce the voice, but in addition to that, many other important tasks are performed by these vocal cords.

1. Creating our own unique voice

This is the most important thing. When you talk, sing, hum, groan, whisper - all of these are the sounds that are made by these vocal cords. When the vocal cords contract, the air coming from the windpipe cannot escape and is trapped. This trapped air creates pressure on the vocal cords. It is because of this pressure that the air is released as droplets, causing the vocal cords to vibrate. Depending on the pitch of your voice, these vocal cords can vibrate hundreds of times per second! This vibration and the air together create your voice.

Imagine, all the things on your face, like your lips, tongue, teeth, cheeks, and sinus cavities, work together to clarify, beautify, and modify the sound coming from these vocal cords, creating your own unique voice.

2. Protecting our airways

This is also very important.

• When you swallow: Your larynx is like a junction. It is where the two paths to the windpipe (airway) and the esophagus (food and drink) divide. When you eat, these vocal cords close, preventing things like food and drink from going into the windpipe. When you swallow, the larynx rises, directing the food straight into the esophagus.
• When you cough: If something tries to get into your airway, your vocal cords suddenly contract, causing a cough. Also, when you have a cold, coughing helps to clear out any unwanted stuff from your respiratory system. Every time you clear your throat, every time you cough, these vocal cords contract.

3. Controlling your breath

When you breathe in and out, the vocal cords move apart, allowing the airway to pass through unimpeded.

Where are the vocal cords located?

Your vocal cords are located inside a part of your body called the larynx , also known as the "voice box." This is located above the windpipe, directly behind the Adam's apple, which is located in the front center of your throat. If you put one or two fingers on this bone and press it, you will feel it go up. If you open your mouth, you will feel it go down.

What is the shape and composition of the vocal cords?

The vocal cords are two pearly white bands of tissue in the middle of your larynx. When the vocal cords are open, the one on the right and the one on the left come together to form an inverted "V." When they are closed, they come together to look like a thin line.

These vocal cords run from left to right and from front to back in the larynx. They are attached to muscles and cartilage inside the larynx that help control the movement of the vocal cords.

The vocal cords are covered by a moist, protective covering called a mucous membrane . Beneath this covering, the vocal cords are made up of three main layers:

• The outermost layer of cells is called the epithelium .
• The middle layer, called the lamina propria, is what helps the vocal cords move.
• The innermost layer of muscles. This includes the Vocalis Muscle and the Thyroarytenoid Muscles .

How does the size of the vocal cords change?

When you are born, your vocal cords are between 6 and 8 millimeters long. As you grow older, they also lengthen. The length and thickness of the vocal cords determine the pitch of your voice. Thicker vocal cords produce a deeper, hoarse voice (lower pitch).

• For men: As boys reach puberty, the hormone testosterone causes their vocal cords to grow and lengthen. This is why their voices become deeper. The average adult male vocal cords are between 1.75 and 2.5 centimeters long. These changes cannot be reversed. This means that those who undergo feminizing hormone therapy to become female will either have to work with a speech therapist to change the pitch of their voice, have voice feminization surgery, or their voices will remain deep.
• Women: As girls reach puberty, their vocal cords also lengthen to some extent. On average, an adult woman's vocal cords are between 1.25 and 1.75 centimeters long. When they take testosterone hormone therapy (masculinizing hormone therapy) to become a man, their vocal cords also grow larger and longer. As a result, their voices become deeper.

As some people age, their vocal cords and other muscles in the larynx become weak and shriveled, making it difficult to speak.

What diseases affect the vocal cords?

Our vocal cords can also develop various diseases. Let's see what they are.

Commonly seen conditions:

• Laryngitis: This is inflammation of the vocal cords. This can cause your voice to become hoarse, weak, hoarse, or hoarse. It can be caused by overuse, infections, smoking, and long-term acid reflux (GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) .
• Vocal Cord Nodules, Polyps and Cysts: These are non-cancerous (benign) growths. Nodules and polyps are solid lumps, while cysts are fluid-filled sacs. These can also cause your voice to become weak, hoarse, or completely absent. The most common cause is straining your voice (overuse or misuse). Other causes include smoking, sinusitis , and allergies.
• Vocal Cord Paralysis: This is when the vocal cords cannot open or close normally. This can make it difficult to speak, breathe, and swallow. Various conditions that damage the nerves can cause the muscles in the vocal cords to stop working properly. This can cause the voice to sound breathy, or make it difficult to cough or clear your throat.

Less commonly seen conditions:

• Laryngeal Cancer: Cancer can develop in the parts of the larynx, including the vocal cords.
• Laryngospasm: This is a sudden spasm of the vocal cords, making it difficult to breathe and speak. These spasms are unexpected and usually last less than a minute.
• Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD): This occurs when the muscles in your head and neck become overactive. You tighten the muscles inside, outside, or both of your larynx. This tightness can make it difficult for your vocal cords to move freely and easily, causing a feeling of tightness and discomfort in your throat and/or neck.
• Reinke's Edema: This is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the area of ​​the vocal cords called 'Reinke's space' and swells. This can cause the voice to become hoarse and the pitch to drop.
• Spasmodic Dysphonia: This is a long-term condition in which the vocal cords tighten or spasm when you try to speak.
• Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO): This condition causes difficulty in opening the vocal cords, making it difficult to breathe. This is also called Vocal Cord Dysfunction .

What are the common symptoms of vocal cord diseases?

Symptoms depend on the specific condition affecting the vocal cords, but there are some common symptoms:

• Hoarseness of voice.
• Loss of voice.
• Weak voice or slow hearing.
• Changes in voice, especially a shift from a high pitch to a low pitch or a hoarseness.
• Frequent coughing, difficulty swallowing, or neck pain.
• Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing.

What methods are used to test the vocal cords?

If you have a change in your voice (such as hoarseness, difficulty speaking) for more than two weeks, you should definitely see a doctor. Depending on your symptoms, you may need to see a voice specialist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. You may also need to see a laryngologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the larynx, or a voice-specialized speech-language pathologist.

When you see your doctor, he or she will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam. In addition, they may do tests such as:

• CT scan or MRI: These imaging tests can look for lumps, cysts, or tumors inside your throat.
• Bacterial Culture Test: The doctor may take a sample from your throat to check for bacteria that can cause infection.
• Laryngoscopy: In this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin tube (laryngoscope) equipped with a light and camera into your larynx and examines your vocal cords.
• Videostroboscopy: This is similar to laryngoscopy, but it uses a special light so the doctor can see how your vocal cords vibrate.
• Biopsy: The doctor may take a tissue sample from your vocal cords and check for abnormal cells.
• Laryngeal Electromyography (LEMG): This test can help diagnose vocal cord dysfunction. It measures how your nerves control the muscles in your larynx.

What are the treatments for vocal cord diseases?

Treatment also depends on the nature of the disease. Common treatments include:

• Resting the voice (not talking or singing - vocal rest).
• Medicines that reduce swelling and pain.
• Surgery to remove things like lumps and tumors.
• Voice Therapy: This can help heal your vocal cords or teach you how to use them properly. It can also help you speak with more confidence and control.

What can we do to keep our vocal cords healthy?

Our voice is something very precious to us. So keeping these vocal cords healthy is also very important. The best thing is to use them properly, without straining them.

Don't name these things:

• Tiring your voice by using it too much (talking too much, singing too much).
• If your voice feels hoarse or weak, try talking or singing.
• Smoking, exposure to cigarette smoke.
• Shouting for a long time, or speaking in a whisper. Both of these things strain the vocal cords.

Do these things:

• If you have GERD/LPRD , get it treated properly.
• Drink enough water per day and keep your body hydrated.
• If you want your voice to be heard further away, use a microphone.
• Stay away from environments where there is a lot of dust and exposure to harsh chemicals.
• If you have an infection, reduce the amount (and volume) of talking.
• When you speak or sing, practice breathing into your lower body, not your chest.
• Especially during dry weather (like winter), use a humidifier to keep the air you breathe moist.

Take-Home Message

Your vocal cords are what help you speak, sing, and even breathe. Even though they're small, your friends and family can recognize you by the sound they make when they vibrate.

Protect your vocal cords from fatigue. Don't strain them by talking too loudly or singing too long. Avoid smoking (including secondhand smoke), and drink plenty of water. Don't abuse your vocal cords and keep your voice healthy. After all, your voice is a valuable asset to you!

` Voice, vocal cords, larynx, throat diseases, voice preservation, laryngitis, voice changes