Vokaallihased

Vokaallihased, or vocal muscles, are a group of muscles in the larynx that control the tension and positioning of the vocal folds. These muscles are crucial for producing sound, enabling speech, singing, and other vocalizations. The primary function of the vokaallihased is to alter the length and thickness of the vocal folds, which in turn changes the pitch of the voice. When these muscles contract, they can stretch and thin the vocal folds, leading to a higher pitch, or relax and thicken them, resulting in a lower pitch.

There are several intrinsic muscles within the larynx that make up the vokaallihased. The cricothyroid muscle is primarily responsible for lengthening and tensing the vocal folds, thus raising the pitch. The thyroarytenoid muscle, on the other hand, can shorten and relax the vocal folds, lowering the pitch, or stiffen them to produce a louder sound. Other muscles, such as the lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles, help to adduct (bring together) and abduct (separate) the vocal folds, which is essential for breathing and producing voiced versus unvoiced sounds. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is the sole abductor of the vocal folds, opening them for respiration.

The coordinated action of these muscles, along with the breath support from the respiratory system and resonance from the vocal tract, allows for the vast range of sounds and inflections that constitute human speech and singing. Damage or dysfunction of the vokaallihased can lead to voice disorders, affecting the clarity, pitch, or loudness of the voice.