The larynx is the portion of the breathing, or respiratory, tract
containing the vocal cords which produce vocal sound. It is located between the
pharynx and the trachea. The larynx, also called the voice box, is a 2-inch-long,
tube-shaped organ in the neck.
We use the larynx when we breathe, talk, or swallow. Its outer wall of cartilage
forms the area of the front of the neck referred to as the "Adams apple."
The vocal cords, two bands of muscle, form a "V" inside the larynx.
Each time we inhale (breathe in), air goes into our nose or mouth, then through
the larynx, down the trachea, and into our lungs. When we exhale (breathe out),
the air goes the other way. When we breathe, the vocal cords are relaxed, and air
moves through the space between them without making any sound.
When we talk, the vocal cords tighten up and move closer together. Air from the
lungs is forced between them and makes them vibrate, producing the sound of our
voice. The tongue, lips, and teeth form this sound into words.
The esophagus, a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, is just
behind the trachea and the larynx. The openings of the esophagus and the larynx
are very close together in the throat. When we swallow, a flap called the epiglottis
moves down over the larynx to keep food out of the windpipe.
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