THE SPECIAL SENSES 



349 



THE VOICE 



631. The larynx, in which the voice originates, is a 

 cartilaginous box with three sides, the sharpest corner 

 forming a ridge in front (Fig. 227). 

 In many persons the larynx is promi- 

 nent in the neck, and is called the 

 Adams apple. The lid of the voice- 

 box, or larynx, is also of cartilage, and 

 is called the epiglottis. Across the 

 middle of the box are stretched two 

 bands, or half-curtains, called the vocal 

 cords (Fig. 228). Their ends are at- 

 tached to the front and back of the 

 larynx. They are not true cords, how- 

 ever, as they are thin and flat, and one 



edge of each 

 band is at- 

 tached to the 

 side of the 

 larynx. Since 



the cords run across the middle 

 of the chamber from front to 

 back, the free edges are brought 

 near together. The slit, or open- 

 ing between these edges, is called 

 the glottis. During ordinary 

 respiration the cords are relaxed 



Larynx above the Vocal Cords, and the slit is wide Open. To 

 with the Mucous Membrane re- i j_i *.\. i j 



moved make the voice the vocal cords 



showing right vocal cord; left vocal must be brought very near to- 



cord: cartilages to which the vocal , , -, -, , , , j 



cords are attached behind; front gether and drawn tight, and a 

 edge of the larynx. current of air must be forced 



through the narrow slit and throw the cords into vibration. 



The front ends of the cords are attached to the larynx just 



4 



FIG. 227. 



View of the lett side of the 

 larynx; i, front portion 

 of hyoid bone; 2, upper 

 edge of larynx; 3, lower 

 portion of larynx ; 4, 

 second ring of trachea. 



FIG. 228. Cross-section of the 



