Plica vocalis

Plica Vocalis is a term used in anatomy and medicine to refer to the true vocal cords (also known as vocal folds). These are a pair of soft tissue structures located in the larynx that play a crucial role in human phonation (the creation of sound), and are thus essential for speech and singing.

Anatomy

The plica vocalis are situated in the middle third of the larynx. They are attached at the front to the thyroid cartilage (the largest cartilage of the larynx), and at the back to the arytenoid cartilages. Each vocal cord consists of a band of muscle (the vocalis muscle) and a ligament (the vocal ligament), covered by a layer of mucous membrane.

Function

The primary function of the plica vocalis is phonation. When we want to speak or sing, the brain sends signals to the muscles of the larynx, causing the vocal cords to move towards each other and close off the airway. As air from the lungs is forced past the closed vocal cords, they vibrate, producing sound. The pitch of the sound can be altered by changing the tension in the vocal cords, which is controlled by the cricothyroid muscle and the vocalis muscle.

Clinical significance

Various medical conditions can affect the plica vocalis, leading to voice disorders. These include laryngitis, vocal cord nodules and vocal cord polyps, laryngeal cancer, and vocal cord paralysis. Diagnosis of these conditions often involves a procedure called laryngoscopy, which allows a doctor to view the vocal cords directly. Treatment may involve medication, surgery, voice therapy, or a combination of these.

See also

• Larynx
• Phonation
• Voice disorders