Interactive application
Vocal apparatus from bottom to top: diaphragm - lungs - trachea (bronchi) - larynx - vocal folds (ligaments) - soft palate (pharynx) - oral cavity. It should be noted that when we talk about the voice as a musical instrument, the body of which is the person himself, then almost the whole body can be safely ranked as the vocal apparatus - from the frontal sinuses and other cavities in the skull to the lower abdominal muscles involved in correct singing breathing , and even lower. As experienced singers say, “you need to sing so that you feel everything - from the top of the head to the heels resting on the floor”.
Diaphragm- (Latin diaphragma) - unpaired broad muscle, separating the pectoral and abdominal cavity serving to expand the lungs. Conventionally, its border can be drawn along the lower edge of the edges. It is formed by a system of striated muscles, which, apparently, are derivatives of the rectus abdominis muscle system.
The diaphragm contracts and relaxes, and just like other muscles in our body, it is amenable to training. It is often called "vocal support", hence the common expression of many teachers and vocalists: "to sing on a support". Literally it means: to sing with the aid of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm is responsible for evenness, sound stability, singing without trembling (not to be confused with vibrato); sound strength (dynamics); partly the brightness of the timbre.
Above the diaphragm are lungs, in the chest area above the lungs is located trachea- a branched air duct connecting the lungs with each other and with the larynx.
Larynx(lat. larynx) - a section of the respiratory system that connects the pharynx with the trachea and contains the vocal apparatus. The larynx is located at the level of 4-6 cervical vertebrae and is connected by ligaments to the hyoid bone. Above, the larynx is connected to the pharyngeal cavity, from below - with the trachea.
The larynx contains a vocal apparatus, which is represented vocal cords- folds of the larynx mucosa, protruding into its cavity, containing the vocal cord and vocal muscle. The vocal cords originate from the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilage and attach to the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage. Above the vocal folds, parallel to them, are the folds of the vestibule.
So how do you speak correctly: folds or ligaments?
In professional vocabulary and in old textbooks, speech therapists, phoniatrists, vocal educators often use the term "vocal cords" or "ligaments" instead of "folds". Thus, both names are correct.
The vocal cords (lat.plica vocalis) are the organ responsible for the formation of a sound wave due to the vibrations of the vocal muscles. The sound wave, passing through the soft palate space (boundaries: from the vocal cords to the small uvula) and the oral cavity (articulatory apparatus), is converted into a full-fledged sound scale, which is accessible to ordinary hearing.
Oral cavity(articulation apparatus) includes lips, teeth and tongue - all of these organs are important in the formation of sounds. Associated with them are concepts such as articulation and diction.
The process of forming a voice looks like this: when inhaling, the diaphragm is stretched, sagging down by relaxing the abdominal wall and costal muscles, the vacuum formed in the lungs is filled with air. During exhalation, the rib and abdominal muscles push the diaphragm upward, which in turn causes the air to contract and release from the lungs. Air under pressure passes through the trachea to the larynx, through the vocal cords, where it is converted into a sound wave by vibrations of the ligamentous muscles that restrain the flow of air. The sound wave passes through the soft palate (pharynx) and enters the oral cavity, where the sound wave is formed into separate sounds and sound combinations.
For some vocalists, the sound wave does not come out quite correctly, getting into the nasopharynx and acquiring a characteristic nasal sound, which is very noticeable during performance. This is due to the fact that the resulting sound is not given enough space to exit through the oral cavity, and it fills the only free space. To avoid this, you need to monitor the position of the soft palate (pharynx), it should be well open (like on a yawn).
Head resonators
What are resonators
The voice is sound vibrations (mechanical vibrations of air molecules), that is, it spreads in the air. All the organs that pass the air on the way from the lungs to the outer space are cavities filled with air. These cavities represent a system of resonators, which creates a unique instrument - the human voice. Cavities - empty spaces - are very similar to the hollow body of other musical instruments: guitars, violins, pianos, flutes, bells, drums, trumpets ... All along its way, the sound wave resonates inside our body, which provides singing brightness, sharpness of sound.
The cavities above the vocal folds are called upper or head resonators... Together with the nasal cavity, they include four pairs of paranasal sinuses: maxillary (maxillary), frontal (frontal), main and ethmoid. Sometimes this includes the oropharyngeal cavity, which consists of the pharynx and the oral cavity.
What our vocal folds look like when we sing
Larynx
The author of the article on the larynx is Olga Gurova, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor of the Department of Human Anatomy of the RUDN University. (Original article)
The larynx is an organ of the respiratory system that performs the functions of air conduction and voice formation.
Larynx is a kind of musical instrument of the human body that allows you to speak, sing, express your emotions in a quiet voice or a loud cry. As part of the airway, the larynx is a short tube with dense cartilaginous walls. The rather complex structure of the walls of the larynx allows it to generate sounds of different heights and volumes.
The larynx is located in the anterior region of the neck at the level of IV-VI cervical vertebrae. With the help of ligaments, the larynx is suspended from the hyoid bone, as a result of which it drops and rises with it when swallowing. Outside, the position of the larynx is noticeable by the protrusion, strongly developed in males and formed by the thyroid cartilage. In common parlance, this protrusion is called "Adam's apple" or "Adam's apple". Behind the larynx is the pharynx, with which the larynx communicates; large vessels and nerves pass from the side. The pulsation of the carotid arteries can be easily felt on the neck on the sides of the larynx. At the bottom, the larynx passes into the trachea. In front of the trachea, reaching the larynx, is the thyroid gland.
The solid frame of the larynx consists of three unpaired cartilages - thyroid, cricoid and epiglottis - and three paired, the most important of which are arytenoid. The cartilages of the larynx are connected by joints and ligaments and can change their position due to the contraction of the muscles attached to them.
The base of the larynx forms a cricoid cartilage, reminiscent of a horizontally lying ring: its narrow "arch" faces forward, and its wide "signet" - back. The lower edge of this cartilage connects to the trachea. From above, the thyroid and arytenoid cartilage join the cricoid cartilage. Thyroid cartilage - the largest, is part of the anterior and lateral walls of the larynx. It distinguishes between two quadrangular plates, which are connected to each other at a right angle in men, forming an "Adam's apple", and an obtuse angle (about 120 °) in women.
Arytenoid cartilages have the shape of a pyramid, their triangular base is movably connected to the plate of cricoid cartilage. From the base of each arytenoid cartilage, the vocal process departs forward, and the muscular process to the side. The muscles are attached to the latter, which move the arytenoid cartilage around its vertical axis. This changes the position of the vocal process, to which the vocal cord is connected.
From above, the larynx is covered with an epiglottis, which can be compared to a "lifting door" above the entrance to the larynx (see Fig. 1). The lower pointed end of the epiglottis is attached to the thyroid cartilage. The wide upper part of the epiglottis descends with each swallowing movement and closes the entrance to the larynx, thereby preventing the ingress of food and water from the pharynx into Airways.
All cartilages of the larynx are hyaline and can ossify, except for the epiglottis and the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage, formed by elastic cartilage tissue. As a result of ossification, which sometimes occurs before the age of 40, the voice loses its flexibility and acquires a hoarse, squeaky tone.
For the formation of sound, the vocal cords, which are stretched from the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilage to the inner surface of the angle of the thyroid cartilage, are of great importance (Fig. 2). Between the right and left vocal cords is the glottis, through which air passes when breathing. Under the influence of the muscles, the cartilages of the larynx change their position. The muscles of the larynx are divided into three groups according to their function: expanding the glottis, narrowing the glottis, and altering the tension of the vocal cords.
The laryngeal cavity is lined with a mucous membrane, which is extremely sensitive: the slightest touch of a foreign body to it reflexively causes a cough. Covers the mucous membrane of the larynx, excluding only the surface of the vocal cords, ciliated epithelium with a large number of glands.
Under the mucous membrane of the larynx lies a fibro-elastic membrane. The laryngeal cavity resembles an hourglass in shape: the middle section is strongly narrowed and bounded from above by the folds of the vestibule ("false vocal folds"), and from below - by the vocal folds (Fig. 3). On the lateral walls of the larynx, between the vestibule fold and the vocal fold, rather deep pockets are noticeable - the ventricles of the larynx. These are the remains of voluminous "vocal sacs", which are well developed in great apes and, apparently, serve as resonators. Under the mucous membrane of the vocal fold are the vocal cords and the vocal muscle, under the mucous membrane of the vestibule folds - the fixed edge of the fibro-elastic membrane.
Laryngeal functions
It is customary to distinguish four main functions of the larynx: respiratory, protective, phonatory (voice-forming) and speech.
- Respiratory... When inhaling, air from the nasal cavity enters the pharynx, from it - into the larynx, then into the trachea, bronchi and lungs. When you exhale, air from the lungs travels all the way down the airway in the opposite direction.
- Protective... The movements of the cilia covering the larynx mucosa continuously cleanse it, removing the smallest dust particles that enter the respiratory tract. Dust surrounded by mucus is excreted as phlegm. The reflex cough is an important protective device of the larynx.
- Phonator... The occurrence of sound is associated with the oscillation of the vocal cords during exhalation. The sound can change depending on the tension of the ligaments and the width of the glottis. Man consciously regulates this process.
- Speech... It should be emphasized that only the formation of sound occurs in the larynx, articulate speech occurs when the organs of the oral cavity work: tongue, lips, teeth, facial and chewing muscles.
The first is the voice, the second is the melody
The ability of a person to make sounds of different strength, pitch and timbre is associated with the movement of the vocal cords under the action of a stream of exhaled air. The strength of the sound emitted depends on the width of the glottis: the wider it is, the louder the sound. The width of the glottis is regulated by at least five muscles of the larynx. Of course, the strength of the exhalation itself plays a role, due to the work of the corresponding muscles of the chest and abdomen. The pitch is determined by the number of vibrations of the vocal cords in 1 second. The more frequent the vibrations, the higher the sound, and vice versa. As you know, strongly stretched ligaments oscillate more often (remember a guitar string). The muscles of the larynx, in particular the vocal muscle, provide the necessary tension for the vocal cords. Its fibers are woven into the vocal cord along its entire length and can contract as a whole or in separate parts. The contraction of the vocal muscles relaxes the vocal cords, as a result of which the pitch of the sound they make decreases.
With the ability to vibrate not only as a whole, but also in separate parts, the vocal cords produce additional sounds to the fundamental tone, the so-called overtones. It is the combination of overtones that characterizes the timbre of the human voice, the individual characteristics of which also depend on the state of the pharynx, mouth and nose, movements of the lips, tongue, lower jaw... The airways located above the glottis act as resonators. Therefore, when their condition changes (for example, with swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses with a cold), the timbre of the voice also changes.
Despite the similarities in the structure of the larynx between humans and great apes, the latter are unable to speak. Only gibbons are able to reproduce sounds vaguely reminiscent of musical ones. Only a person can consciously regulate the force of exhaled air, the width of the glottis and the tension of the vocal cords, which is necessary for singing and speaking. The medical science that studies the voice is called phoniatrics.
Even in the time of Hippocrates, it was known that the human voice is produced by the larynx, but only 20 centuries later, Vesalius (XVI century) expressed the opinion that the sound is produced by the vocal cords. Even now, there are various theories of voice formation, based on individual aspects of the regulation of vibrations of the vocal cords. Two theories can be cited as extreme forms.
According to the first (aerodynamic) theory, voice formation is the result of vibrational movements of the vocal folds in the vertical direction under the action of an air stream during exhalation. The decisive role in this belongs to the muscles involved in the expiratory phase, and the muscles of the larynx, which bring the vocal cords closer together and resist the pressure of the air stream. Muscle work is adjusted reflexively when the larynx mucosa is irritated by air.
According to another theory, the movements of the vocal folds do not occur passively under the action of an air stream, but are active movements of the vocal muscles, carried out by a command from the brain, which is transmitted along the corresponding nerves. The pitch, associated with the frequency of vibration of the vocal cords, therefore depends on the ability of the nerves to conduct motor impulses.
Individual theories cannot fully explain such a complex process as voice formation. In a person with speech, the function of voice formation is associated with the activity of the cerebral cortex, as well as lower levels of regulation, and is a very complex, consciously coordinated motor act.
Larynx in nuances
The specialist can examine the condition of the larynx using a special device - a laryngoscope, the main element of which is a small mirror. For the idea of this device, the famous singer and vocal teacher M. Garcia was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Medicine in 1854.
The larynx has significant age and sex characteristics. From birth to 10 years of age, the larynx of boys and girls is virtually indistinguishable. Before the onset of puberty, the growth of the larynx in boys increases sharply, which is associated with the development of the gonads and the production of male sex hormones. At this time, the boys' voice also changes (“breaks down”). The mutation of the voice in boys lasts about a year and ends at the age of 14-15. In girls, the mutation occurs quickly and almost imperceptibly at the age of 13-14 years.
The male larynx is on average 1/3 larger than the female, the vocal cords are much thicker and longer (approximately 10 mm). Therefore, the male voice, as a rule, is stronger and lower than the female one. It is known that in the XVII-XVIII centuries. in Italy, boys of 7-8 years old were castrated, who were supposed to sing in the papal choir. Their larynx during puberty did not undergo much change and remained childish in size. This achieved a high tone of voice, combined with a masculine power of performance and a neutral timbre (between childish and masculine).
Many organs and systems of the body take part in the formation of the voice, and this requires their normal functioning. Therefore, the voice, speech is an expression not only of the normal activity of individual organs and systems, including the human psyche, but also of their disorders and pathological conditions. By changing the voice, one can judge the state of a person and even the development of certain diseases. It should be emphasized that any changes in the hormonal background in the body (in a woman - the use of hormonal drugs, menstruation, menopause) can lead to changes in the voice.
The sound energy of the voice is very low. If a person speaks continuously, then in only 100 years he will produce the amount of heat energy necessary to brew a cup of coffee. However, the voice (as a necessary component of human speech) is a powerful tool that changes the world around us!
OUR LEARNING MATERIALS
Vocal cords are paired muscle-fibrous formations that perform the function of human voice formation. Before examining the pathology of the ligaments, it is worth understanding the anatomy of the larynx - the organ that contains these structures.
The larynx is a hollow organ that is an element of the human respiratory system. Voice production is also an important function. Above, the larynx connects to the lower part of the pharynx, and below it passes into the trachea.
Anatomical structure
The basis of the larynx is hyaline cartilage. They are connected to each other using joints and ligaments. In the larynx there are small (paired) and large unpaired cartilages: the epiglottis, thyroid and cricoid cartilage (the latter two can be palpated through the skin).
Inside the larynx is lined with a mucous membrane that performs protective, nutritional and other functions.
Outside, the cartilaginous skeleton is covered with muscles and fiber, separating the organ from adjacent formations.
Larynx folds
Between the cartilages of the larynx there are two pairs of folds of the mucous membrane of the organ: vocal and vestibular.
The vestibular (false) folds also contain muscle elements, but they are not sufficiently developed. Therefore, these formations do not participate in the process of voice formation.
The mechanism of voice formation
The sound is created as follows: under the voluntary effort of a person, the width of the glottis and the degree of tension of the vocal cords change during the passage of the air flow through the larynx. Resists the flow of folds and forms a vocal sound.
Causes of pain in the vocal cords
In most cases, the cause of pain in the vocal region of the larynx is the inflammatory process - laryngitis, which occurs as a cold disease due to hypothermia. However, the pathology of the vocal cords can be due to other serious reasons:
- Diphtheria.
- False croup.
- Tumors of the larynx.
- Foreign bodies.
Some factors affect the ligaments quite rarely, but their effect is quite possible. Rare causes of pain in the vocal cords are:
- Injuries.
- Damage to poisonous substances when breathing.
- Laryngeal polyps.
- Tuberculosis.
Diagnosis of diseases of the larynx
If a person has symptoms of damage to the larynx and vocal cords for a long time, and treatment at home does not help, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will conduct the necessary research. Diagnostic methods include:
- Examination of the throat with a spatula - pharyngoscopy.
- External palpation of the organs of the neck.
- Laryngoscopy - examination of the larynx using a special device, a laryngoscope.
- X-rays and other radiation techniques.
- Biopsy - taking material for microscopic examination.
Acute laryngitis is inflammatory disease larynx and vocal cords caused by bacteria and viruses. Laryngitis symptoms
- Feeling of pain, perspiration, discomfort in the throat.
- Hoarseness of voice.
- Cough, usually dry.
- Increased body temperature (optional).
Laryngitis reasons
The inflammatory process develops most often after hypothermia, overstrain of the vocal cords, smoking and drinking alcohol, inhalation of air contaminated with dust or gas. In the larynx, its own microflora is activated, to which the body is resistant under normal conditions. Another causative agent of laryngitis can be a virus (such as influenza or measles).
Laryngitis can be caused by an allergic reaction due to inhalation of irritants, insect bites, and the use of allergens.
Laryngitis treatment
What to do with inflammation of the larynx? To alleviate the symptoms in the early period of treatment, it is recommended to create rest for the vocal folds: to give up smoking, tension in the ligaments, exclusion of spicy and cold food.
A gentle regimen for the whole organism is shown: rest, warmth, abundant alkaline drink.
With laryngitis, the doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of a spray and inhalation. Antibiotics are sometimes indicated in the same dosage forms.
Within two weeks, with proper therapy, the symptoms of the disease cease to bother the patient.
Chronic laryngitis
With improper treatment of acute laryngitis, concomitant smoking, occupational overstrain of the vocal cords, harmful dust and gas factors of production, there is a high risk of developing chronic laryngitis.
Symptoms of the disease repeat the acute form of pathology. Chronic laryngitis worsens several times a year and causes significant inconvenience to the patient.
Chronic laryngitis treatment
Disease therapy is complex, often with low results.
Inhalation with oil and alkaline solutions shows good results. It is recommended to use a nebulizer - a device that sprays a substance in the form of tiny drops.
Therapy for exacerbation of the disease is identical to the treatment of acute laryngitis.
When areas of mucosal hyperplasia (proliferation of cells) are formed on the larynx, they must be surgically removed. Patients with this pathology are registered in the dispensary to prevent the development of laryngeal cancer.
Diphtheria is a disease that develops more often in children, caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This disease is manifested by the formation of a croup in the throat - inflammation with the formation of films on the vocal folds that interfere with breathing and voice formation.
The so-called false croup is formed under the influence viral infection and affects not only the vocal cords, but also other parts of the larynx.
Croup symptoms
The most striking manifestation of croup in both diphtheria and viral infection is a loud "barking" cough. This symptom is formed due to the difficulty in passing air through the larynx narrowed by the film. Other signs are:
- Wheezing when breathing.
- Bluish skin tone - cyanosis.
- Increased body temperature.
- Difficulty and increased breathing rate.
Treatment
Depending on the cause of the pathology, croup is treated in various ways. Inhalation of humidified air and steam has a good effect. For diphtheria, antibiotics are added to this treatment, which are used in different forms, including inhalation.
In severe pathology, inhalation of corticosteroids is used - hormonal drugs that effectively relieve inflammation in the larynx.
False croup caused by viruses is ineffective to treat with antibiotics. They use drugs that stimulate the immune system, the above inhalations. With croup in children, hospitalization is necessary to prevent the development of stenosis of the larynx - an obstruction of an organ with inability to breathe.
Symptoms
Signs of a tumor are prolonged sore throat, hoarseness, dry cough, difficulty breathing and swallowing. Later, symptoms of general weakness, weight loss, and susceptibility to frequent colds appear.
Treatment of tumors
Treatment is extremely quick. When a tumor is detected in a timely manner, surgical intervention leads to good treatment results, and modern rehabilitation techniques allow you to preserve the quality of life of patients.
Foreign bodies
What to do in this case? Be sure to see a doctor. Foreign bodies are removed using a bronchoscope device, which is inserted into the larynx. The doctor, under the control of his own vision, can easily detect and remove an object that has got there from the larynx.
Every person has folds in the lining of the larynx called the vocal cords. This part of the vocal apparatus takes part in voice formation. In a number of diseases, inflammation occurs in the muscle folds, which causes a violation or complete loss of voice. There are many ways that you can restore your vocal cords after a cold and avoid adverse effects on your voice.
Where are the vocal cords and what is their structure
Muscle folds are located in the central part of the larynx along its right and left sides. The ligaments are stretched along the center of this section of the respiratory system. The folds are attached to two cartilages at once: arytenoid and thyroid. Above the ligaments and parallel to them are the so-called false vocal folds.
Also distinguish true folds... They consist of the vocal muscle and the ligament. The muscle of the true folds includes fibers of the oblong type. Moreover, they are located in opposite directions from each other, which allows the ligaments to vibrate either in a separate part or in their entire mass.
False ligaments are located on the submucosa and a small bundle of muscles. They can participate in the closure of the glottis, which is between the true folds. But due to sluggish movements, complete closure of the false ligaments does not occur. For this reason, they are directly involved only in laryngeal singing, as well as in the formation of a pseudo-connective voice.
The folds are made of dense fabric with elasticity. The internal muscles of the ligaments are called vocal muscles. Due to their presence, various options for imitating the voice of one person are possible.
Reference. A person predominantly makes all sounds when exhaling, since in this moment there is a closure and closure of the glottis between the folds. In other primate species, sound production occurs only during inhalation.
Vocal fold pathologies
Most often, the ligaments become inflamed due to hypothermia. Dysphonia (voice disturbance) and aphonia (complete loss of voice) can also be observed against the background of overstrain of the folds. The inflammatory process in them can occur due to exposure to dirty air or allergens.
- in any form;
- measles virus;
- flu infection;
- scarlet fever;
- bronchitis;
- spastic dysphonia;
- neoplasms of various nature.
Nodules, polyps, and cysts, which are benign growths, can develop on the folds. Also, their condition is influenced by the papilloma virus, provoking the appearance of warty formations in a person.
Cancer localized in the area of the human vocal apparatus can also provoke dysphonia. Neoplasms can affect the ligaments. With their further growth, metastases spread throughout the body, which ultimately provokes the death of a person.
Typical symptoms of the inflammatory process
- hoarseness and hoarseness of the voice;
- dry cough;
- feeling of dryness in the larynx;
- pain in the larynx, especially when swallowing;
If inflammation wears sharp character, then the person's temperature rises additionally (above 38 ° C). There is also pain in the head. With chronic manifestation, the patient has constant swelling in the larynx.
| A form of ligament inflammation | Characteristic manifestations |
| Catarrhal | Hoarseness, perspiration and mild dry cough, mild pain in the larynx |
| Hypertrophic | Hoarseness pronounced, nodules appear on the vocal cords |
| Atrophic | There is a strong swelling of the vocal cords, there is a dry cough that turns into a wet one; sputum contains blood impurities |
| Syphilitic | Hoarseness is permanent, ulcerative formations and bumps appear on the folds |
| Diphtheria | White plaque forms on the ligaments, which provokes voice loss and difficulty breathing |
| Inflammation with false croup | There is a strong edema of the entire larynx, which provokes stenosis in it, the voice does not disappear, but it becomes hoarse, there is a risk of asphyxia |
Treatments for inflammation
What to do if the vocal cords hurt and there is a sore throat? The first step in treatment is to ensure complete vocal rest. It is not recommended to talk and strain your voice during the entire period of therapy and for several days after recovery.
During the diagnosis, the doctor examines the symptoms, and the treatment of inflammation of the vocal cords is carried out by taking medications. Also shown physiotherapy... They are used as a concomitant treatment and are rarely prescribed separately.
Physiotherapy for ligament inflammation includes:
- microwave therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- irradiation with a Sollux lamp;
- UV irradiation;
- UHF therapy.
With the ineffectiveness of medicines and physiotherapy, as well as with the risk of developing laryngeal cancer and other complications, the patient is carried out surgery on ligaments.
Recovery of folds after a cold
After an illness, to restore the ligaments, you must follow the recommendations:
Attention! Within a week after a cold, it is necessary to refuse to visit baths and saunas, as well as to avoid smoky rooms.
Strengthening the vocal folds
In practice, many methods are used to strengthen the vocal cords. Among them:
- Gargling your throat daily decoction based on chamomile flowers, eucalyptus, calendula. Take one large spoonful of dry mixture of herbs and pour 2 cups of boiling water. The mixture is boiled for a couple of minutes, after which it is infused for another 40 minutes. The resulting infusion is filtered. It is necessary to rinse the throat with broth twice a day.
- Gargle with potato juice... Juice is squeezed out of fresh potatoes in an amount of 200 ml. It is required to gargle the throat with the mixture four times a day.
- Blend based on honey and carrot juice... Both ingredients are mixed in the same amount (200 g each) and taken four times a day.
- a deep exhalation is made, followed by a slow exhalation, while the sounds "a, o, y" are simultaneously pronounced and the chest is tapped with a fist;
- when the chin is pressed to the chest on a leisurely exhalation, the sounds "o" and "y" are repeated at a very low frequency;
- every day, several times the consonants "n" and "m" are pronounced nasally, exhaling through the nose.
Medicines used
At inflammatory process the following drugs are prescribed for the vocal cords:
Conclusion
Inflammation of the ligaments can be associated with various medical conditions. The most common cause is laryngitis with hypothermia and overwork. Treatment of pathology requires integrated approach... Voice peace is required. As a preventive measure, it is not recommended to often raise your voice and avoid a strong load on the vocal folds that occurs when screaming.
The vocal cords are anatomical structures important for humans that are responsible for functions such as voice and protecting the lungs and bronchi from water, food or other foreign objects entering them. The ligaments are located in the middle part of the pharynx on the left and right sides of it, stretched in the center.
Anatomical features
- true vocal cords are two symmetrical folds of the laryngeal mucosa containing the vocal muscle and the ligament. They have an individual structure that differs from other muscles;
- False vocal cords are also called vestibular folds, as they are located in this area. They themselves cover the submucosal tissue and muscle bundle. They take part in the closing and opening of the glottis. But their true functions are manifested only with laryngeal singing and with the development of a false-lingual voice.
The mystery of the voice
The larynx, and accordingly the vocal folds, belong to organs and anatomical structures that depend on the level of hormones. Hence there is a difference in voice between men and women. In childhood, the voices of girls and boys sound about the same, but with the advent of adolescence, the voice mutates, this feature is associated with a change in hormonal levels. Under the influence of male hormones, the larynx expands and lengthens, and the ligaments become denser. Due to such changes, the voice becomes coarser and deeper. After the onset of adolescence, in girls, the larynx undergoes very slight changes, due to which the voice remains high and sonorous.
In some cases, there are atypical voices for sounding in men or women. These phenomenal exceptions are due to genetic mutation or hormone imbalances.
With the advent of old age, voice changes are also noted, it becomes rattling and weak, this all happens due to the fact that the ligaments cease to close to the end, as they become thinner and weaker. The deterioration of their function is also associated with insufficient production of hormones, which are practically not produced after the onset of the aging period.
- hypothermia;
- professions that require constant speech (teachers, actors, etc.);
- diseases of the larynx, the treatment of which was not carried out in a timely manner.
Interesting fact! Speakers who deliver speeches continuously for 2-3 hours should rest the vocal cords for the next 8-9 hours, this is how much time is required for their recovery, otherwise hoarseness or hoarseness threatens.
Diseases
Unfortunately, like any other organ, the vocal cords are susceptible to various pathologies under the influence of various reasons. Pathologies can be of different nature, for the treatment of some, it is enough to carry out simple manipulations and rest the voice, for other diseases, surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation will be required.
- a granuloma is a benign mass that can result from trauma
larynx or with systematic irritation of the ligaments. The manifestations of granulomas include hoarseness, a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the larynx, a desire to cough it up. Also granuloma, a mass that can cause painful sensations, as a result of constant irritation when talking. Pain can occur not only in the larynx region, but also be given to the ear on the affected side. Outwardly, the granuloma is a pale pink formation, it can be located both on a wide footboard and on a thin one. Education tends to grow as long as it is exposed to irritation, and in the case of the vocal cords, this effect is irreversible. With regard to treatment, surgical intervention is carried out only after all conservative methods have proved to be ineffective. For conservative treatment it is important to exclude the cause of the annoying factor, to create complete vocal peace. If the granuloma is not irritated over time, it will resolve itself; - vocal cord nodules are benign growths that arise as a result of constant overload of the ligaments. Most often they are formed in middle-aged women, as well as in people whose profession is associated with singing or oratory. After frequent overloads, seals form on the folds that resemble calluses; with continued stress, they continue to increase in size. The pathology has no special symptoms; only painless hoarseness of the voice can appear, which disappears after a short rest. The mainstay of treatment is voice therapy, with the use of steroid drugs to reduce the swelling of the folds of the larynx. But after another overload of the ligaments, the nodules may reappear, the disease is chronic. In some cases, it is proposed to remove nodules using a laser or cryosurgical methods;
- polyps are benign growths that are usually located in the middle of the vocal folds. Signs of polyps are hoarseness, sometimes a feeling of a foreign body in the throat. Polyps have clear edges, predominantly red, the structure of the growth can be lobular or have a smooth surface, the sizes can be different. Polyps are mainly caused by trauma to the larynx and ligaments. As well as nodules, the treatment of polyps is based on voice therapy, if it is ineffective, they resort to surgical intervention;
- spastic dysphonia manifests itself in involuntary movements of the vocal folds. The causes of such disorders are most often mental disorders, severe stress or overload of the ligaments. The disease is inherited, more often it affects people 30-40 years old. Spasmodic dysphonia is characterized by a tight, unnatural voice. Pathology consists in limiting the motor function of the vocal cords. Injections are most commonly used for treatment
special preparations in the area of the ligaments. Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely cure the pathology, but only to improve the patient's condition. If after the injections the desired result is not obtained, surgery may be prescribed; - phonasthenia, a pathology that manifests itself in a weak closing of folds. It occurs due to overload of the vocal cords or fatigue of the nervous system. Silence is the main treatment for phonasthenia. In the chronic course of the disease, complete aphonia, that is, loss of voice, can develop without treatment;
- vocal cord cancer is perhaps the most difficult disease that requires immediate treatment. The exact reasons for its development have not been established, but it is known that the factors influencing the appearance of atypical cells are smoking and taking alcoholic beverages. Also, a malignant tumor can be reborn as a result of the lack of treatment for precancerous diseases, for example, after polyposis. Treatment is prescribed individually, as a rule, it is of a surgical nature, tumor removal is required, as well as radiation exposure.
As you can see, the vocal cords are the main tool that allows us to speak. But, not only the ability to speak depends on their work, but also the protection of the respiratory tract, since the folds block the way for accidentally trapped crumbs or water to get into the lungs or bronchi. Most often, violations of the functionality of these anatomical structures are faced by people who have to speak a lot and loudly, singers, actors, teachers. They are more susceptible to the risk factor for the formation of ligament diseases than others; to prevent them, you should observe the voice mode and give proper rest to the ligaments. In this case, they will reward you with smooth voice performance without hoarseness.
Voice education data is called because in rare cases of pathology, trauma or surgical removal of true vocal folds, false (after some practice) are able to take over the function of creating a voice.
Of course, the human voice in this case is very rough and does not resemble the real one, however, in the vocal tract, thanks to the oropharyngeal resonator, formants appear, which make it possible to create vowel sounds. At least, a person possesses some kind of ersatz-version of speech.
The ability of the false ligaments to produce a sound wave is one of the arguments of the supporters of the myoelastic theory of voice formation.
The main role of the false ligaments in the human body is to close the entrance to the airways. At the time of air retention, as well as in other conditions of the body, for example, straining, coughing, the false vocal cords are able to completely block the entrance to the trachea, working simultaneously with other sphincters located in the vocal tract.
The function of the false ligaments obeys the deep control systems of the brain (reflex), therefore, it is not under the control of consciousness. However, it is possible to learn to a large extent how to control the compression or opening of the false vocal cords using the exercises developed within the framework of the EVT Method.
When singing, the false ligaments can be partially reduced (only by their front part). In this case, the sound of the voice will receive an additional echo of wheezing, since the influence of false cords on true vocal folds will change the original frequency spectrum of the sound created by true vocal folds. This practice is called “controlled vocal clamping,” and the sound that occurs is called distortion (similar to the effect used in electric musical instruments).
In Russian sources one can often find the concept of “splitting”. It is necessary to understand that this term refers exclusively to the nature of the audible timbre - a “hoarse” component is mixed with the “pure” sound. Insufficient understanding of the nature of the origin of such a sound, ignorance of the existence and functioning of the false vocal cords lead to an incorrect judgment about some kind of “splitting” (physical) of the true vocal folds themselves, which is completely impossible.
If the function of the false vocal cords is not under the control of the vocalist, then their work can (and this often happens) cause irreparable damage to the covering layers of the true vocal folds, which create vibration. As a result, the vocalist may forever lose the ability to create a "clear" voice, and, as a maximum, aphonia (loss of voice) is quite likely.
The risk of triggering the "protective sphincter" - false vocal cords - significantly increases with the phonation of the sonorous consonants S, W, X, F, therefore, exercises (often still used in Russia) have already been removed from the practices of advanced vocal schools, in which the student is required to exaggerate these sounds.
As an example, an unprepared person has a sharp cry "Hey!" responds with a fleeting "scratch in the throat", as many vocalists report. This effect is a small phonotrauma caused by the instantaneous reflex actuation of false vocal cords. A conversation "in raised tones" also leads after a while, if not to painful, then quite perceptible consequences of "scratching" - soreness, burning sensation, increased secretion of mucus in the larynx region.