LII Tensor Mechanism of the Vocal Folds

Abstract

X-ray measurements of the human vocal folds in respiration and phonation were fitted to the length-tension curve of striated muscle. The respiratory length was about 65 per cent of the maximum phonatory length. The greatest length was reached in high pitch phonation and represents the physiological "resting" length at which tension is developed most efficiently. It is concluded that passive elongation of the vocal fold by the cricothyreoid acts synergistically with active contraction of the vocalis muscle in the development of phonatory vocal fold tension. The muscular vocal folds of man make possible a greater range and finer gradations of sound production than the predominantly ligamentous folds of most other mammals.