Vocal Pedagogy - The Larynx

Anatomy of the Larynx

The larynx, commonly known as the voice box, is a complex structure located in the neck, between the pharynx and the trachea. Although singers often associate the larynx primarily with voice production, its functions extend far beyond singing and speaking. It plays an essential role in breathing, airway protection and phonation.

The larynx is built around a flexible framework of cartilages, connected by joints, membranes and ligaments and controlled by a sophisticated system of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles.

Among its most important structures are the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, arytenoid cartilages and epiglottis. Above the larynx lies the hyoid bone, which provides attachment for several muscles and contributes to the positioning and movement of the larynx.

The thyroid cartilage is the largest laryngeal cartilage and surrounds much of the internal laryngeal anatomy. Below it sits the ring-shaped cricoid cartilage, which connects the larynx to the trachea. Sitting on the posterior part of the cricoid are the paired arytenoid cartilages. These small but extremely important cartilages move at the cricoarytenoid joints and play a major role in controlling the position of the vocal folds.

Housed within the larynx are the vocal folds - two highly specialised folds of tissue extending from the thyroid cartilage anteriorly toward the arytenoid cartilages posteriorly.

The space between the vocal folds is called the glottis. During breathing, the vocal folds are generally abducted, creating an open pathway for airflow. To initiate phonation, they are brought towards the midline - adducted - where their interaction with airflow and pressure from the respiratory system allows self-sustained vibration to occur.

Above the true vocal folds are another pair of folds called the vestibular folds, often referred to as the false vocal folds. Although they are not normally the primary vibratory structures in typical voice production, they contribute to laryngeal function and airway protection and can also participate in certain vocal behaviours and sound qualities.

The movement and configuration of all these structures are controlled by the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. These muscles can abduct and adduct the vocal folds and alter their length, stiffness, thickness and configuration. The posterior cricoarytenoid, for example, is the primary abductor of the vocal folds, while other muscles, including the lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles, contribute to adduction. The cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles play particularly important roles in adjusting the mechanical properties of the vocal folds for phonation.

The epiglottis, positioned above the entrance to the larynx, forms part of a larger protective mechanism that helps prevent material from entering the airway during swallowing. Importantly, airway protection is not achieved by the epiglottis acting as a simple “lid”; it involves coordinated movement of multiple laryngeal and surrounding structures.

From a voice perspective, the larynx should therefore not be thought of simply as a box containing two vocal folds. It is a dynamic neuromuscular and biomechanical system capable of continuously adjusting its shape, position and internal configuration.

These adjustments allow us to breathe freely, protect the airway and create the extraordinarily diverse range of pitches, intensities and vocal qualities available to the human voice.

Understanding the anatomy of the larynx helps us understand that voice is not the action of a single structure, but the result of a highly coordinated system.

Sources

Titze, I. R. (2000). Principles of Voice Production. National Center for Voice and Speech. A foundational reference for the anatomy, biomechanics and acoustics of voice production.
Sundberg, J. (1987). The Science of the Singing Voice. Northern Illinois University Press. A classic reference connecting laryngeal anatomy and physiology with singing.
Titze, I. R. (1980). Comments on the myoelastic-aerodynamic theory of phonation. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 23(3), 495–510. PubMed
StatPearls. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Larynx Vocal Cords. Overview of vocal-fold anatomy and the anatomical structures of the larynx. NCBI Bookshelf
StatPearls. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Laryngeal Muscles. Overview of the intrinsic and extrinsic musculature involved in laryngeal movement and vocal-fold control. NCBI Bookshelf

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse