Sound Wire

Where are the vocal cords?

Every person has two vocal cords located in the middle of the neck, just below the pharynx and just above the trachea. During evolutionary development, the primary function of the vocal cords, and the larynx in general, is to protect the airway and lungs from foreign particles and food entering from outside.

How do the vocal cords work?

When breathing, the vocal cords open in a V-shape, and when eating and producing sound, they come fully together. Of course, this simple explanation is a very rough description of the perfect working mechanism of the vocal cords. During speech and voice production, the human vocal cords contact (vibrate) each other an average of 120 times per second in men and 200 times per second in women. 

What is the structure of the vocal cords?

The vocal cords consist of two separate layers. The upper layer, which both vocal cords touch, consists of mucosa, epithelium and lamina propria. The layer below the mucosa is muscle tissue.

You can benefit from other topics on our site about the working principles of the vocal cords, visualization of the vocal cords and vocal diseases.

I wish you a healthy voice.