Vocal cords

In humans, the vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are folds of throat tissues that are key in creating sounds through <a href="/facts/Speech/WEelhfTs">vocalization</a>. The length of the vocal cords affects the pitch of voice, similar to a violin string. Open when breathing and vibrating for <a href="/facts/Speech/WEelhfTs">speech</a> or <a href="/facts/Singing/EWY1s7lw">singing</a>, the folds are controlled via the <a href="/facts/Recurrent_laryngeal_nerve/vMcn31Mw">recurrent laryngeal branch</a> of the <a href="/facts/Vagus_nerve/cKQR0rLm">vagus nerve</a>. They are composed of twin infoldings of <a href="/facts/Mucous_membrane/oIw0vyel">mucous membrane</a> stretched horizontally, from back to front, across the <a href="/facts/Larynx/0bhtXI3Q">larynx</a>. They <a href="/facts/Vibration/sGgDqG71">vibrate</a>, modulating the flow of air being expelled from the lungs during <a href="/facts/Phonation/u2IGLdgG">phonation</a>.
The 'true vocal cords' are distinguished from the 'false vocal folds', known as <a href="/facts/Vestibular_fold/YEJMWT0W">vestibular folds</a> or ventricular folds, which sit slightly superior to the more delicate true folds. These have a minimal role in normal <a href="/facts/Phonation/u2IGLdgG">phonation</a>, but can produce deep sonorous tones, screams and growls.
The length of the vocal fold at birth is approximately six to eight millimeters and grows to its adult length of eight to sixteen millimeters by adolescence. <a href="/facts/Dihydrotestosterone/fQpDuzcL">DHT</a>, an <a href="/facts/Androgen/Rxey0HxX">androgen</a> metabolite of <a href="/facts/Testosterone/uUumdhAz">testosterone</a> which is secreted by the gonads, causes changes in the cartilages and musculature of the larynx when present in high enough concentrations, such as during an adolescent boy's <a href="/facts/Puberty/vjfPAKf4">puberty</a>: The thyroid prominence appears, the vocal folds lengthen and become rounded, and the epithelium thickens with the formation of three distinct layers in the <a href="/facts/Lamina_propria/0X6EyHug">lamina propria</a>.. These changes are only partially reversible via <a href="/facts/Reconstructive_surgery/qoI1tW23">reconstructive surgery</a> such as <a href="/facts/Chondrolaryngoplasty/K1JpjUPG">chondrolaryngoplasty</a>, <a href="/facts/Feminization_laryngoplasty/Pjjxjhbw">feminization laryngoplasty</a>, and laser tuning of the vocal cords.

Vocal cords open-in-new

Vocal cords