“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
Vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are two bands of elastic tissue located in the larynx (voice box) that vibrate to produce sound when air flows past them. They are crucial for producing human speech, as well as for other vocalizations like singing, shouting, and screaming.
When we speak, the vocal cords come together and vibrate rapidly, creating sound waves that travel through the throat, mouth, and nose to form speech sounds. The pitch of the sound is determined by the tension of the vocal cords, with higher tension producing higher pitch.
The vocal cords are controlled by muscles in the larynx, which adjust their tension and position to produce different sounds. In addition to producing sound, the vocal cords also play a role in protecting the airway by closing off when we swallow or cough.
Factors such as age, gender, and physical health can affect the functioning of the vocal cords, and certain conditions such as laryngitis or vocal cord nodules can lead to hoarseness, difficulty speaking, or other voice problems.