What is this glottis that helps your voice? Let's find out!

Have you ever wondered how your voice comes out, how these words are formed when we speak and sing? A small but very important part of our throat helps a lot with this. That part is called the glottis. You may not have heard this name before. But that's okay, today we're going to talk about it simply.

So, what happens in this glottis? Why is it important to our bodies?

Simply put, your glottis is the area in the middle of your voice box , or larynx. It is where your vocal cords (or vocal folds) are located. It also includes the space between those vocal cords and the cartilage that moves them.

Many people think of the larynx as just a box with vocal cords that make up the voice. However, of the parts of the larynx, your vocal cords are actually only in this part called the glottis. It is thanks to this glottis and the vocal cords that you are able to speak and make sounds that others can recognize you.

The glottis performs three main functions:

1. Helps you breathe: Normally, your vocal cords are open in the shape of a "V" inside the glottis. When you breathe in, air from your nose or mouth passes through these open vocal cords into your windpipe and into your lungs. When you breathe out, the vocal cords remain open.

2. Prevents food from entering the lungs: When you swallow something, the epiglottis, a flap-like part of your upper larynx, closes off the entrance to the larynx. Then, the food goes down your esophagus instead of your windpipe. At the same time, your vocal cords also close inside the glottis. This is another safety mechanism that prevents food from entering the respiratory tract. Imagine how difficult it would be if a little food or water went into your windpipe! This mechanism is there to prevent that from happening.

3. Helps you make sounds: When you start to speak or sing, your vocal cords contract and become closed. The air coming out of your lungs enters the space below the vocal cords, and when that air flow is strong enough, the vocal cords begin to vibrate. That vibration is what creates sound waves. You can speak and make different sounds because of the vibrations that occur inside the glottis.

What is a glottal stop? Let's understand a little bit.

A good way to understand how the glottis helps you speak is to try something called a glottal stop . Most sounds start in your glottis, and then they travel through the hollow space above the glottis, into your sinuses, and into your mouth, where they acquire their distinctive characteristics. But in a glottal stop, the sound both starts and stops in the glottis.

To make a Glottal Stop, you need to stop the air passage in the Glottis while making a vowel sound. Think of it like saying "uh-oh." Or, say the "t" in the word "city" without pronouncing it (si-e). When you do this, your vocal cords vibrate at the beginning of the word, then quickly close in the middle (for example, after the "a" in "a-uh" or after the "si" in "si-e"). You stop the sound in the Glottis. Now, try pronouncing the "t" in the word "city" correctly. You will avoid a Glottal Stop.

Try to understand the difference between how the sound feels when it stops in the glottis in this way, and how it feels when you say the words normally without it.

Where exactly is this glottis located?

Your glottis is located behind the thyroid cartilage, which is the bone in your throat, or your Adam's apple. It is located between the top part of your larynx (called the supraglottis) and the bottom part (called the subglottis).

• Supraglottis: This is the crescent-shaped area at the front of your neck that extends from the top of the hyoid bone to the glottis. This is where your epiglottis is located, and where you will find folds of mucous membrane (called ventricular folds, sometimes called "false vocal cords").
• Glottis: This extends from the lower border of the supraglottis to the upper border of the subglottis.
• Subglottis: This extends from the bottom of the glottis to the cricoid cartilage (a ring-like cartilage around your windpipe).

What are the parts of the Glottis?

The glottis has two main structures: your vocal cords and the opening between them, the rima glottidis .

• Vocal Cords: These are the two muscular tissues that control the pitch of your voice (how high or low it is). Large, thick vocal cords produce a low-pitched (coarse) voice, and small, thin vocal cords produce a high-pitched (soft) voice.
• Rima Glottidis: This is the opening between your vocal cords. When the rima glottidis is open, air can pass through the vocal cords. When you speak, the rima glottidis is closed. The air moves through the vocal cords. In this closed state, the vibrations that cause them to rub against each other create sound.

Your glottis also contains cartilage , ligaments , and muscles that support and move your vocal cords. The pitch of your voice is primarily determined by the size and weight of your vocal cords, but how you control them also affects this. For example, these muscles can tighten or relax when you imitate a breathy voice or sing loudly.

What does the glottis look like?

If you could look at the glottis from directly above, you might be reminded of a cat's eye. Think of the rima glottidis as the black pupil in the middle of the eye, and the vocal cords as the right and left sides of that pupil.

The appearance of the glottis varies depending on whether your rima glottidis is open or closed. When it is closed, the vocal cords are joined together and look like a line. When the rima glottidis is open, you can see a "V" shape, with the vocal cords forming the left and right sides of the "V".

What are the diseases and disorders that affect the glottis?

There are several conditions and disorders that can affect the glottis. Let's take a look at what they are:

• Glottic Stenosis: This is a type of laryngeal stenosis. Glottic stenosis is when your glottis becomes too narrow. It can be present at birth. Or it can develop after scar tissue forms due to an injury or infection.
• Glottic Insufficiency: In this condition, the vocal cords do not close properly when you speak. This can increase the risk of food and drink getting into the windpipe (aspiration). It can also cause symptoms such as hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.
• Glottic Cancer: This is a type of laryngeal cancer. Glottic cancer starts in your vocal cords or the tissues that support them in the glottis.

Also, conditions that affect your vocal cords can also affect the glottis. Some of them include:

• Laryngitis (this is the most common condition)
• Laryngospasm (a sudden contraction of the larynx)
• Muscle Tension Dysphonia (Voice problems caused by muscle tension)
• Reinke's Edema (a condition in which the vocal cords become swollen)
• Spasmodic Dysphonia (voice changes caused by a neurological problem in the vocal cords)
• Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (formerly called Vocal Cord Dysfunction)
• Vocal Cord Nodules, Polyps, and Cysts
• Vocal Cord Paralysis or Paresis (Vocal Cord Paralysis or Paresis)

What are the common symptoms of a problem with the glottis?

If you have a condition that affects your glottis, you may experience symptoms like these:

• Hoarseness or change in voice (Dysphonia)
• Feeling pain or discomfort when swallowing or speaking
• Sore throat or cough
• Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia)
• Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea)

If you have symptoms like these, it is best to seek medical advice.

What are the common tests performed to check the health of the glottis?

Depending on your symptoms, you may need to see a specialist to diagnose disorders affecting the glottis. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, laryngologists who treat disorders of the voice box, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who specialize in this can help.

Some tests you may want to do:

• Tests that use a special camera to look closely at your glottis. Examples include laryngoscopy and videostroboscopy.
• Imaging tests to look for structural abnormalities. For example, a CT scan (Computed Tomography Scan) or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan.
• Lab tests to check for infection, such as blood tests and a throat culture.
• Examining a tissue sample to see if there are signs of cancer. This is called a biopsy.

What are the common treatments for diseases related to the glottis?

Here are some common treatments:

• Medications to reduce infection and swelling, and relieve pain.
• Voice Therapy .
• Resting the voice (not talking or singing).
• In some cases, surgery is required .

How do I take good care of my glottis? (Finally, things to remember)

Taking good care of your glottis really means taking steps to protect your vocal cords. Here are some things you can do:

• Avoid tobacco use and limit alcohol consumption: Using tobacco products and drinking too much alcohol increase the risk of developing glottic cancer. Smoking and alcohol can also dry out your vocal cords, making them more susceptible to damage.
• Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated means your vocal cords don't have to work as hard to vibrate. This makes it easier to use your voice and less likely to get damaged. Also, staying hydrated helps thin out mucus that may build up in your glottis, making it easier to clear. This will help you avoid coughing and clearing your throat. Coughing is not good for your vocal cords.
• Prevent respiratory infections: Take steps to prevent getting sick. Wash your hands often, and stay away from people who have a cold until they recover.
• Stay away from things that are harmful to your throat: Stay away from environments with a lot of dust and chemicals as much as possible. These can be harmful to your throat.
• Avoid straining your voice: If your voice is hoarse or feels weak, try not speaking for a while. If you still want to speak, but want to give your voice a rest, use a microphone.

While the word "voice box" may sound simple, your larynx is actually a complex structure with several parts, including the glottis. Knowing about your glottis can help you understand more about how your vocal cords work. It can also help you take good care of them. Although your glottis is a tiny part of your throat, this tiny organ plays a big role in helping you breathe, speak, and create your own unique voice. So, it's important to take care of it!

Glottis , vocal cords, voice, larynx, breathing, throat diseases, voice box