[HANASHIR:15516] Re: Spelling of 'vocal cords'

[Lisa Levine and Lynn Metrik <lisanlynn...>]

Dr. Katz,
 
Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate your being "picky."  So am I.  
As a  professional voice and speech user, a Clinical Speech Pathologist who has 
specialized in Voice Disorders and has been a Professional Voice and Speech 
Trainer for thirty years, I have to take issue with part of your 
description/definition of the vocal mechanism.  Your description of the vocal 
cords ." A vocal cord is a cord, a piece of string, or fibrous tissue (also 
known as the larynx) is not quite right.  According to Gray's Anatomy,Taber's 
Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Clinical Voice Disorders by Aronson as well as 
numerous other texts dealing with the anatomy, physiology and function of the 
larynx, the vocal cords are not cords at all. They are not strings or fibrous 
tissue alone, rather they are muscles which contain fibrous tissues and 
ligaments. In actuality, they are "folds" and are more appropriately referred 
to as "vocal folds."  This terminology was has been commonly used in most texts
 dealing with the subject for numerous years and was officially adopted 
approximately 5-8 years ago by the Voice and Speech Trainers Association 
(VASTA) as well as the Voice Foundatin of America. 
 
There are two distinct sets of vocal folds.  The ventricular folds or as they 
often referred to, the "false folds," lie superior to the "true folds." Often 
excessive tension and hyperfunctional vocal behavior bring the false folds into 
play during both speaking and singing. The resulting tone that is produced is 
noticeably hoarse and/or harsh and strident.
 
" The true and false folds are extrusions of circular thyroarytenoid muscle 
fibers, which upon total constriction, fold or constrict the lumen of the 
larynx....The thyroarytenoid muscles form the main bodies of the vocal folds.  
The muscle passes lateral to the vocal ligament (which may be thought as a 
"cord" as you described), forming a broad sheet.  Its more medial portion forms 
the vocalis muscle, which is actually a part of the thyroarytenoid."   
(Clinical Voice Disorders, Aronson, 1980).
 
In addition, you stated that the "vocal cords" were also referred to as the 
larynx.  Again, this is not appropriate.  The larynx is the cylindrical, 
cartilagenous structure which encases the vocal folds. The larynx is comprised 
of nine separate cartilages.  The two most prominent cartilages are the thyroid 
cartilage, the superior portion, and the cricoid cartilage which forms what is 
considered to be the lower portion of the larynx.  The folds sit horizontally 
in the larynx and lie approximately in between the junction of these two major 
cartilages.  
 
While all of the above is condensed as well as rather involved and technical, 
it is a more appropriate description/definition of the vocal mechanism.  I 
think that even lay people, non-medical/clinical, voice and speech users can be 
more properly educated and knowlegable regarding the anatomy and physiology of 
the mechanism that they depend upon to make their livings.  Perhaps if all were 
more cognizant of the actual mechanism and its functions and processes, then 
they might also be more aware of better vocal behavior, techniques and care and 
maintenance of the voice.  
 
Thanks-
Lynn R. Metrik, CCC
Clinical Speech Pathologist


Edward Katz <eekatzmd (at) yahoo(dot)ca> wrote:
I don't mean to be picky, but there is no 'h' in the
expression "vocal cords." A vocal cord is a cord, a
piece of string, or fibrous tissue (also known as the
larynx). The term chord is a musical expression, and
refers to the simultaneous sounding of two or more
notes. This is probably one of the most frequently
misspelled terms in the English language.

Edward Katz, M.D.
Montreal, QC


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"Lisa & Lynn"  

"Two girls...Two guitars...Real Jewish Folk"


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