What makes the larynx

The larynx, or voice box, sits at the back of the throat, above the windpipe trachea. The vocal cords are stretchy bands of tissue attached to the inside of the larynx. Air passing in and out of the lungs is pushed through these cords. Movements of the cartilage allow the vocal cords to contract or relax, which changes the pitch of sounds.

The larynx also contains an important flap or valve called the epiglottis, which covers the trachea whenever we swallow to prevent foods or liquid entering the lungs. Various infections and disorders, such as cancer, can affect the larynx. The usual symptom is hoarseness. Acute laryngitis is characterised by the sudden inflammation of the larynx, caused by a viral infection such as the common cold. Overusing the voice, for example, yelling or singing, or irritation from cigarette smoke can also cause the larynx to redden and swell.

Persistent hoarseness is almost always caused by either irritation from cigarette smoke or voice abuse, such as frequent shouting. Prolonged exposure to air pollutants, such as dust, can also irritate your larynx and cause chronic laryngitis. Croup is a form of viral laryngitis specific to children, usually aged between six months and six years. The virus produces inflammation and swelling of the larynx and associated structures, such as the trachea and the airways leading to each lung.

In the severe form of croup, certain areas such as the mouth or fingertips may turn blue from lack of oxygen cyanosis. Sometimes, a bacterium can infect the larynx, causing a similar but life-threatening illness called epiglottitis. The child will usually have a high fever and look very unwell.

The HIB vaccination routinely given to infants usually prevents epiglottitis. An inhaled foreign body may also produce a croup-like illness. It is formed by nine cartilages that are connected to each other by muscles and ligaments. The larynx plays an essential role in human speech. During sound production, the vocal cords close together and vibrate as air expelled from the lungs passes between them. The size of the membranous folds of the true vocal cords differs between individuals producing voices with different pitch ranges.

Folds in males tend to be larger than those in females which create a deeper voice. The act of swallowing causes the pharynx and larynx to lift upward allowing the pharynx to expand and the epiglottis of the larynx to swing downward closing the opening to the trachea.

These movements produce a larger area for food to pass through while preventing food and beverages from entering the trachea. The true vocal cords and vestibular folds of the larynx are viewed inferiorly from the laryngopharynx. Continuous with the laryngopharynx, the superior portion of the larynx is lined with stratified squamous epithelium, transitioning into pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium that contains goblet cells.

Treatments for this condition include speech therapy, Botox injections , and surgery. Symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia include :. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders , spasmodic dysphonia often results from issues with the basal ganglia. These are the clusters of neurons in the center of the brain that control motor movement. Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one or both vocal cords cannot open or close properly. Possible causes include :.

Learn more about vocal cord paralysis here. The larynx is a small structure composed of cartilage and soft tissues that serves as a pathway between the throat and the windpipe. It also houses the vocal cords, which are responsible for producing speech sounds. Many different health conditions can affect the larynx, including laryngitis, vocal cord nodules, and vocal cord paralysis. Doctors can treat these conditions with techniques that include voice therapy and surgery.

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