32 THE VOICE. 



LESSON XII. 



THE ORGANS OP VOICE WARMTH OF THE HUMAN 



BODY. 



THE organs of voice are in close union with, 

 and, indeed, form part of, the parts used for breath- 

 ing. They are placed at the upper end of the 

 windpipe, so that the current of air necessary to 

 respiration passes through them. 



If you feel with your fingers just below the 

 chin, you find the thyroid cartilage, a prominence 

 which has a somewhat triangular shape ; and, in 

 common language, is not unfrequently called 

 Adam's apple. 



This projection is composed of several pieces of 

 hard substance, very curiously contrived and put 

 together, and forming a hollow body which en- 

 closes the parts producing sound. These are four 

 chords, called the cordze vocales, which pass from 

 side to side like strings, and it is the rush of air 

 over these that gives rise to our voice. There are 

 several muscles connected with these cords, which 

 can tighten or relax them, and thus produce differ- 

 ent tones. 



The tongue, the lips, the cheeks, and the palate 

 assist in modulating or shaping the sounds which 

 proceed from the parts above named. By these 

 means we articulate, or speak, that is, express 

 ourselves in words or language. Reason, which 



