THE VOICE AND SPEECH. 443 



the edges of the vocal cords approximated and made parallel, at the same 

 time that their tension is much increased. The higher the note produced, 

 the tenser do the cords become (Fig. 307, A); and the range of a voice 

 depends, of course, in the main, on the extent to which the degree of 

 tension of the vocal cords can be thus altered. In the production of a 

 high note, the vocal cords are brought well within sight, so as to be 

 plainly visible with the help of the laryngoscope. In the utterance of 

 grave tones, on the other hand, the epiglottis is depressed and brought 

 over them, and the arytenoid cartilages look as if they were trying to 

 hide themselves under it (Fig. 308). The epiglottis, by being somewhat 

 pressed down so as to cover the superior cavity of the larynx, serves to 

 render the notes deeper in tone, and at the same time somewhat duller, 

 just as covering the end of a short tube placed in front of caoutchouc 

 tongues lowers the tone. In no other respect does the epiglottis appear 

 to have any effect in modifying the vocal sounds. 



The degree of approximation of the vocal cords also usually corre- 

 sponds with the height of the note produced; but probably not always, 



FIG. 308. View of the upper part of the larynx as seen by means of the laryngoscope during 

 the utterance of a grave note, c, epiglottis; s, tubercles of the cartilages of Santorini; a, arytenoid 

 cartilages; z, base of the tongue; ph, the posterior wall of the pharynx. (Czermak.) 



for the width of the aperture has no essential influence on the height of 

 the note, as long as the vocal cords have the same tension: only with a 

 wide aperture, the tone is more difficult to produce, and is less perfect, 

 the rushing of the air through the aperture being heard at the same time. 

 No true vocal sound is produced at the posterior part of the aperture 

 of the glottis, that, viz., which is formed by the space between the ary- 

 tenoid cartilages. For if the arytenoid cartilages be approximated in 

 such a manner that their anterior processes touch each other, but yet 

 leave an opening behind them as well as in front, no second vocal tone is 

 produced by the passage of the air through the posterior opening, but 

 merely a rustling or bubbling sound; and the height or pitch of the note 

 produced is the same whether the posterior part of the glottis be open or 

 not, provided the vocal cords maintain the same degree of tension. 



THE VOICE IN SINGING ANP SPEAKING. 



Varieties of Vocal Sounds. The laryngeal notes may observe 

 three different kinds of sequence. The first is the monotonous, in which 



