What Are Vocal Folds

The vocal cords (also called vocal folds) are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx (voice box). The vocal cords vibrate and air passes through the cords from the lungs to produce the sound of your voice. Some of the more common vocal cord disorders include the following.

What is the function of the vocal folds?

Briefly, the vocal folds are folds of tissue located in the larynx (voicebox) that have three important functions: To protect the airway from choking on material in the throat. To regulate the flow of air into our lungs. The production of sounds used for speech.

What is the vocal folds made of?

The vocal folds are a pair of rubber band-like tissues located in your larynx (voice box) directly above the windpipe (trachea). They’re made of up several layers of cells, including muscle and an elastic layer, known as the mucosa.