glote

Glote, also known in English as the glottis, refers to the opening between the vocal folds within the larynx. It plays a central role in voice production and in protecting the airway during swallowing.

Anatomy and boundaries

The glottis is the space called the rima glottidis, bounded by the true vocal cords (vocal folds) and the arytenoid cartilages. It is surrounded superiorly by the supraglottic space and inferiorly by the subglottic space. The vestibular or false vocal folds lie above the true vocal cords and help protect the delicate structures during swallowing.

Location and divisions

Located in the larynx, the glottis sits between the laryngotracheal airway and the upper respiratory tract. The glottic region can be considered in contrast to the supraglottis and subglottis, collectively forming the three main anatomical compartments of the larynx.

Function

The primary function of the glottis is vocalization. By adjusting the size and tension of the vocal folds, it controls airflow and enables phonation, pitch, and loudness. The glottis also acts as a protective valve, closing to prevent aspiration during swallowing and coughing to expel irritants.

Movement and control

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles regulate glottic opening and tension. Abduction (opening) is mainly accomplished by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, while adduction (closing) involves the lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles. Tension is adjusted by the cricothyroid and related muscles. Nerve supply largely comes from the recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of the vagus nerve).

Clinical notes and linguistic usage

Glottic disorders include vocal fold paralysis, edema, stenosis, or inflammation, which can affect voice and breathing. In linguistics, a glottal stop is a consonant produced by a complete glottal closure followed by release, a feature in many languages. In Portuguese and some other languages, “glote” is the term for the glottis.