How Does My Voice Work?
Anatomy & Physiology of The Voice
Do you recall a moment when you decided to play a prank on your friend? You took a balloon, blew in it and then decided to hold it next to your friend’s ear so it makes a high pitched annoying sound? Well, this is exactly how your voice works. In order to speak, all you need is air, an obstacle and cavities that can transform the sound wave into different sounds. Now, let’s apply this mechanism to the human body.
It all starts in the lungs. In fact, your diaphragm, a muscle attached to your rib cage, and intercostal muscles will expand your lungs when you inhale and then push the air out when you exhale. After that, the air will go up your trachea and reach your voice box located in your larynx. At this point, it will face an obstacle: your two vocal folds.
The vocal cords are made of muscles, ligaments, mucus and are usually in an open position when you breathe, in a closed position when you phonate or swallow. Moreover, when you exhale, the subglottic pressure will force them to open for a very brief moment before closing again. This phenomenon will take place many times in a second letting small puffs of air out. Thus, the vocal folds start vibrating and the sound wave is created at this specific point.
How is it possible to produce so many different sounds using the exact same sound wave? In fact, your cavities (nasal cavity, pharynx, oral cavity) will play a major role in amplifying some frequencies and reducing others. When the sound wave reaches these chambers and ducts, it will change depending on their size or shape. Consequently, your voice will resonate differently. Let’s try this together: open your mouth while phonating as if you were eating an apple, you will produce the sound. Now try to smile, you will produce the sound!
To sum up, many factors and variables interfere in voice production. However, if these elements fail at doing their job, your voice will not reach its optimal potential and you will be at risk of developing vocal injury