Music or sound is a necessary component of life. Life would be bored and bitter without it. Sound, in general, is a source of energy that allows us to understand. Have you ever considered how it is produced by multiple instruments and living organisms? Vibrations allow it to be generated. We sense waves if we talk forcefully and rub our throat. The reason for these vibrations is the voice box known as the larynx which is fitted in your throat that’s why whenever you shout or even buzz like a bee your throat will give light vibrations continuously. There are different types of structures in different mammals to produce sound like birds have Syrinx, reptiles have glottis and similarly, humans have a larynx.
Sound Produced By Humans
The speech box, also known as the larynx, is used by humans to create sound. The voice box is located at the top of the windpipe in our throat. The vocal cords are two ligaments found in the human voice box. The waves of the vocal cords produce sound. The vocal cords are connected to muscles that alter the stress or stretching of the cords, as well as the space between them. The vocal cords’ muscles are totally relaxed, causing them to separate and loosen, allowing air from the lungs to flow into them without making any sound.
When we are not speaking or singing, the two vocal cords are separated by a wide distance. When we are not speaking or singing, the two vocal cords are separated by a wide distance. When we want to talk, the muscles in our vocal cords contract, stretching and closing the two vocal cords together, leaving just a small slit between them. A stream of air is passed between the two vocal cords by the lungs.
The vocal cords vibrate as a result of the air. And the sound is produced by the vibrating vocal cords. When we talk or sing, our vocal cords literally vibrate. Vocal sounds are produced by the vibration of the vocal cords caused by expelled air.
Hence, the following points can be made out of the above explanation to understand the production of sound by humans as:
- In humans, the sound is produced with the help of the Voice Box. This is the area which you also feel whenever you swallow something, a hard bump will move up and down.
- Thus, in humans, the sound is produced through the vibrations that occur in the larynx.
Human Sound Working System –
The mechanism for producing the human voice can be split into three parts namely-
- Lungs
- Articulators
- The vocal folds inside the voice box
Lungs
- Lungs are the pair of a squeeze, air-filled organs
- Fitted on both sides of the chest.
Articular –
- Some of the articulators are the tongue, the upper and lower lip, gums and teeth, and the glottis.
Larynx –
- The larynx is known as the voice box of the body.
- It is that part of the body that produces the voice.
- It is present in the neck region of the human body.
DIFFERENT VIEW OF LARYNX
Now, we only have to study about the Larynx organ in this chapter:
Where Larynx Is Situated??
- The larynx is present in the anterior part of the neck.
- It is connected to the top of the wind pipe.
- At the top of the trachea larynx placed which contains dual vocal cords to allow air to get pass through it.
How Larynx Works??
The vocal folds generate sound whenever they come close and then it produces sound vibration as air passes through them during the process. And these are those vibrations that produce the sound wave for our voice. The vocal folds which are stuck inside the voice box to the largest of the throat cartilage is known as ‘Adam’s apple’.
To form the sound lucid and to remain away from the harshness, the vocal folds should vibrate simultaneously in a symmetric way and continuously. The vibration rate decides the sound pitch . And when the voice is rough, the reasons could be following
- Vocal folds are not closing fully
- Vibrating asymmetrically.
Muscles joints with vocal cords could make the cords rigid or loose. When the vocal cords are tight and thin, the type and the quality of voice is different from when they are loose and thick.
Need Of The Voice Box
- The voice box of our body performs many functions as given below-
- It is responsible for starting or keep the communication process continue.
- It also helps in gulping the chewed food.
- It also helps in the breathing process by giving way to oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through it, which ultimately helps in the smooth functioning of the respiration process.
Sample Problems
Question 1: What is the size of the vocal cord in humans? Who has the larger one with how much?
Solution:
Females have 15mm of vocal cord while males have 20mm normally. Therefore, Men have a longer vocal cord.
Question 2: Why the voices of men, women, and children are so different?
Solution:
Because of the frequency of pitch and the amplitude of the loudness , person of every age have a different touch of voice.
Question 3: Which organs are used in producing sound?
Solution:
There are 3 organs used in the process of producing sound name as:
- Larynx
- Articular
- Lungs
Question 4: What can be felt while talking, on our throat?
Solution:
There are the vibrations made in the larynx while talking that can be feel from outside the body.
Question 5: What are the different types of sound that can be produced?
Solution:
Sound can be of two types:
- Audible
- Inaudible
Question 6: Which organ of our body is responsible for producing vibrations?
Solution:
Voice box is responsible for producing vibrations.
Question 7: What do you mean by inaudible sound? What are its effects?
Solution:
Sound which is of high range, pitch and vibrations are known as inaudible sound . It creates noise pollution and can also damage hearing power of the body.