Äänijänteiden

Äänijänteet, also known as vocal folds or vocal cords, are folds of mucous membrane stretched across the larynx (voice box). They are crucial for producing sound in humans and many other animals. The primary function of the vocal folds is phonation, the process of creating voice. When we speak, sing, or shout, air expelled from the lungs passes through the larynx and causes the vocal folds to vibrate. This vibration creates sound waves that are then modified by the vocal tract (throat, mouth, and nasal cavities) to produce specific speech sounds.

The tension and length of the vocal folds can be adjusted by muscles within the larynx. Increasing tension and length generally raises the pitch of the voice, while decreasing them lowers the pitch. The degree to which the vocal folds are brought together also affects the sound; a tighter closure results in a louder voice. When breathing, the vocal folds are typically held apart, allowing air to pass freely into and out of the lungs without producing sound.

Various conditions can affect the vocal folds, leading to voice disorders such as hoarseness, aphonia (loss of voice), or changes in pitch. These can be caused by overuse, misuse, infections, inflammation, nodules, polyps, or more serious conditions like cancer. The study and treatment of voice disorders fall under the domain of laryngology, a subspecialty of otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat medicine).