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Anatomy and physiology for students of voice at the Royal Academy of Music
March 2007 Lecture and CD by Paul Manley, Consultant Osteomyologist. Copyright 2007 Paul Manley

The larynx in action

Laryngeal video recordings: Normal female

These recordings are set to a fairly low resolution for the internet but do show the general function of the vocal cords. Much more detail is actually visible on a video in the office. The videos are oriented with the front of the voice box down. The left vocal fold is on the right of the video. Two different females are pictured below. Both are classically trained singers and had no known vocal problems at the time of the recording.

Pitch: Rise and fall
Content:
This arpeggio demonstrates how the pharynx narrows as pitch increases to create a narrower tube for resonance at the higher pitch. There is a touch of vibrato at the end.

Pitch: Slide
Content
: This slide downward in pitch demonstrates how the vocal folds shorten in length to decrease pitch. The vocal folds are vibrating at over 200 vibrations per second.


Pitch: G3# and higher
Content
: Two different tones, the first in the typical female speaking pitch range. The vocal folds are short in length. The amplitude of vibration is wide. Vocal cords are already adducted

Pitch: C5#
mid range for soprano

Content:
Continuous tone at a mid range pitch, the vocal cords are stretched, normal mucosal wave, thin clear secretions seen dancing on the surface. The vocal cords start in the abducted or breathing position.

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