Vocal Cords (Human Anatomy): Image, Function, Diseases, and Treatments

The vocal cord, also known as the plica vocalis from its Latin name, is one of two folds of mucous membrane that run across the internal chamber of the larynx. These folds are principally responsible for the production of the voice.

The vibrating of the folds, which occurs in reaction to the passage between them of air that has been expelled from the lungs, is what produces sound. The level of a person's voice may be traced back to the frequency of these vibrations.

The vocal chords of women and children are shorter and thinner than those of men, which may explain in part why they have higher-pitched voices.

The first pair of vocal cords is called the false vocal cords, while the second pair is called the real vocal cords (glottis). The opening and shutting of the vocal folds is facilitated by muscles that are linked to the vocal cords both directly and indirectly.

Normally, speech is produced when air that has been expelled from the lungs travels up the trachea and strikes the underside of the vocal cords, setting off vibrations as it passes through them; raw sound is produced by the larynx and travels to the upper cavities, which serve as resonating chambers.

• Vocal Nodule: Prolonged voice abuse, as observed in teachers, singers, and vendors, causes submucosal haemorrhage, manifested as minute nodules mm) in the location of maximal vibration of real vocal cords, i.e. the junction of anterior 1/3rd and posterior 23rd vocal cords (or midpoint of membranous part of true VC). Singer's or screamer's nodule. Two-sided. Women and children suffer more. Infections, allergies, and LPR aggravate it.
• Vocal Polyps: It is a benign solitary swelling that arises from the free border of the actual vocal cord. The size of the swelling is about mm. It is caused by rapid overuse of the voice, such as yelling, and is especially prevalent when the vocal chords are inflamed as a result of an illness.
• Dysphonia Plica Ventricularis: The real vocal chords normally generate the voice. If the actual vocal cords stop working owing to an organic reason (paralysis, fixation, or tumour) or a non-organic cause, the function is taken over by fake vocal cords. Specifically, ventricular folds. The voice that results is harsh and low pitched. This is referred to as dysphonia plica ventricularis.
• Spasmodic Dysphonia / LaryngeaL Dystonia: This is a condition where the phonatory muscles go into involuntary spasm during speaking leading to dysphonia. It is a neurological disorder and is often associated with other dystonias, e.g. blepharospasms, oromandibular dystonias. etc. It is of three types. adductor, abductor and mixed.
• Aphonia / Habitual Dysphonia: It is particularly common among emotionally unstable girls between the ages of 15 and 30. In the presence of stressful situations, the patient may begin speaking in hushed tones. The pitch of the voice is not always consistent. At times, the patient reports a sudden loss of voice that is not accompanied by any other neurological deficiency, and she begins communicating through motions.
• Puberphonia / Mutational Falsetto: The high pitch voice of a boy turns to the low pitch voice of an adult male throughout puberty due to the vocal cords extending and relaxing (i.e. decreasing in tension). Its low-pitched voice does not develop. Puberphonia refers to the adult male's continued use of a high pitched voice. vocal cord exams
• Phonasthenia: Voice weakness caused by phonatory muscle weakening is common in voice abuse or after laryngitis.
• Laryngeal Pseudosulcus: Sulcus vocalis is an aberrant anatomical alteration in which the vocal cord epithelium adheres to the underlying vocal ligament. This causes the voice cords' medial surface to seem grooved.
• Pharyngolaryngeal Reflux: Extraesophageal reflux disease (EERD) is the retrograde movement of stomach contents to the upper aerodigestive tract. It causes infraglottic oedema on the undersurface of the chord, ranging from anterior to posterior. giving it the look of Sulcus vocalis This is referred to as laryngeal pseudosulcus.
• Laryngomalacia (Congenital Laryngeal Stridor): This is the most frequent congenital laryngeal abnormality and the most prevalent cause of baby stridor. It exhibits signs like as At delivery, the infant exhibits no symptoms of respiratory abnormalities. However, the youngster develops intermittent inspiratory stridor after a few days to a few weeks (hunting the cause to be supraglottic). This inspiratory stridor begins mildly and gradually worsens over the course of 6 months.
• Vocal Cord Paralysis: This is the second most frequent congenital laryngeal abnormality that causes stridor. Arnold-Chiari malformation is the most frequent congenital CNS disorder that results in vocal cord paralysis.
• Subglottic Stenosis: In children, the subglottis is the thinnest section of the larynx. Because cricoid cartilage is the sole complete ring cartilage of the larynx, any little decrease in subglottis diameter will result in substantial blockage.

• Videostroboscopy: It is critical to distinguish between distinct vocal cord injuries and to monitor recovery throughout speech therapy. It is based on the premise that flashing light at a vibrating item below the frequency at which it vibrates causes it to appear to vibrate in slow motion.
• Indirect Laryngoscopy: Indirect laryngoscopy (l/L), rigid or flexible fibre optic endoscopy are used to examine the larynx in the ENT OPD. Indirect laryngoscopy uses a laryngeal mirror against the soft palate. Laryngeal mirrors are pre-warmed by placing them near a Bull's eye lamp bulb, a flame, or heated water. This prevents fogging from breathing..
• Direct Laryngoscopy: Larynx and hypopharynx can be directly seen with a rigid or flexible fiberoptic endoscope. Direct laryngoscopy uses a hard laryngoscope to perform laryngeal surgeries.
• Gutzmann's Pressure Test: In the event of a good result, verifies the onset of pubertal development. During this examination, the prominence of the thyroid is pushed rearward and downwards, which produces a low tone voice.

• Decortication: In this procedure, a limited strip of epithelium is removed from one side of the vocal cord while the vocal ligament is kept intact. The other side will be operated on in around three to four weeks.
• Microlaryngoscopic Excision Of Granuloma: This method is used to remedy the issue anytime the larynx region develops a variety of aberrant nodules, and it is effective in doing so.
• Kashima's Operation: It is a posterior glottic cordectomy that is performed endoscopically. In this case, a resection in the form of a wedge is performed in the posterior VC tor in order to create the airway.
• Cordectomy: If you have laryngeal cancer, your doctor may recommend that you have a cordectomy, which is a surgical treatment that removes part or all of the voice cords. This cancer attacks the voice box, also known as the larynx, which is an important part of the body since it is used for breathing, talking, and swallowing. Above your trachea is where you'll find your voice box (windpipe).
• Tracheoesophageal diversion with a permanent tracheostomy: Permanent technique, gold standard for chronic aspiration prevention. The 2nd and 3rd tracheal rings are horizontally separated. The top end of the trachea is anastomosed to the cervical oesophagus, and the lower end is sutured to the skin to create a tracheostome. This technique will silence the patient.

• Steroids for reducing inflammation of Vocal Cords: Cortisol (Dexamethasone, Prednisone, or Hydrocortisone) Fludrocortisone (in main disease) and increased steroids for mild illnesses or vocal cord surgery.
• Analgesics for pain in Vocal Cords: The most commonly prescribed over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers by doctors are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. It is normal practise to utilise Them to reduce the body-wide soreness, headache, and fever that come with a cold.
• Antibiotics for infection in Vocal Cords: The vast majority of sinus infections may be managed without the use of antibiotics and will eventually clear up on their own. The doctor scribbled the names Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate), Zithromax (azithromycin), and Levaquin on the prescription paper (levofloxacin)
• Mucopurulent drugs for nasal congestion: This combination medication is effective in treating respiratory infections that cause both a cough and nasal congestion or runny nose (nasal congestion). Improvements in mucus clearance may be attained with the use of mucolytic medications, such as guaifenesin, by decreasing mucus viscosity. Another drug that has the potential for mucopurulent side effects is pseudoephedrine.
• Antivirals for treating infection of Vocal Cords: Antiviral medications like seltamivir or inhaled zanamivir are commonly used to treat rhinitis and other rhinovirus infections. It is common practise to administer these medications for a full five days in the treatment of laryngeal congestion.
• Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis: First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, acrivastine, azatadine, brompheniramine, carbinoxamine, chlorpheniramine, and clemastin, are useful in the treatment of allergic rhinitis because they alleviate the symptoms of nasal congestion and excess mucus production.