Äänielinten

Äänielinten, often translated as vocal organs or speech organs, refers to the anatomical structures in the human body responsible for producing sound for speech. These organs work in concert to generate, shape, and articulate vocalizations. The primary components of the sound production system include the lungs, which provide the airstream; the larynx, located in the throat, which houses the vocal folds (vocal cords); and the vocal tract, a resonant cavity extending from the larynx to the lips.

The lungs expel air, which then flows through the trachea to the larynx. Within the larynx, the vocal folds can be brought together or apart. When they are brought together and air passes through them, they vibrate, producing the fundamental sound of the voice. The tension and length of the vocal folds can be adjusted to change the pitch of the voice.

Above the larynx is the vocal tract, which includes the pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity. The shape of the vocal tract is highly flexible and can be altered by the tongue, lips, jaw, and soft palate. These movements modify the resonant frequencies of the airstream, shaping the raw sound produced by the vocal folds into distinct speech sounds, such as vowels and consonants. The tongue is particularly crucial for articulating a wide range of sounds, while the lips are used for sounds like 'p' and 'b', and the nasal cavity contributes to sounds like 'm' and 'n'.