What are vocal cord disorders?
The vocal cords (also called vocal folds) are two bands of smooth muscle tissue located in the larynx (voice box). The larynx is located in the neck at the top of the trachea (windpipe). Vocal cords produce the sound of your voice, by vibration and the air passing through the cords from the lungs. The sound the vocal cords produce is then sent through the throat, nose, and mouth, giving the sound “resonance.” The sound of each individual voice is determined by the size and shape of the vocal cords and the size and shape of the throat, nose, and mouth (the resonating cavities). Vocal cord disorders are often caused by vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, smoking, coughing, yelling, or inhaling irritants. Some of the more common vocal cord disorders include laryngitis, vocal nodules, vocal polyps, and vocal cord paralysis.
