Power to Sing: Vocal Cords, Scopes, and Voice Mechanics

Presenter: Chuck Gilmore with Power to Sing.
The video opener shows a pronunciation example using the word Mary (Mary, Mary, Mary) in General American to illustrate vowel quality and mouth shape before delving into how the voice works.
Message: Singing is not a mystery; understanding starts with the vocal cords and how they operate.

Scientists examine the vocal cords with endoscopes: two main types exist.
Flexible scope: a flexible tube with a camera at the end; inserted through the nose and guided down the throat to visualize the vocal cords.
Rigid scope: a larger, pen-like instrument with a camera; used to look into the mouth and throat.
Both methods produce images on a monitor; it can be confusing because the cords are horizontal in the throat, but on the monitor they can appear vertical or up-and-down.
Anatomy: vocal cords are located inside the larynx (the voice box).
Attachment and movement: the cords are connected to the front of the neck and open/close toward the back.
Size reference given in the video: the cords are described as approximately two millimeters in length.

Vocal cords are three-dimensional structures with length, width, and depth.
Three primary tissue layers are named: muscle, ligament, and mucosa (the slick outer layer of the vocal cord).
The cords open during breathing and come together when producing voice (speaking or singing).
They can be covered (protected) during swallowing.
The epiglottis acts as a lid that closes over the vocal cords when we swallow to protect the airway; if fluid passes, coughing helps clear it out.

When air passes through the vocal cords during speech or singing, it creates a series of sound waves, i.e., vibration.
The vocal cords generate the initial vibrations, which are the first tones heard as part of voice production.

The process begins with air flowing through the glottis (opening between the vocal cords).
This airflow induces vibration of the vocal cords, producing sound waves that form the basis of voice.

Size differences noted: by age 20, the cords are described as approximately 10\text{ mm} in length for women and 60\text{ mm} for men.
The change in male vocal cords during puberty is described as much greater, leading to a deepening of the voice.
As a result, singing during the male vocal change (puberty) can be more challenging due to the hormonal and structural changes affecting cord tension and mass.

Understanding that cords are multi-layered tissue helps explain why vocal health (hydration, avoiding strain) matters for reliable phonation.
Knowing that swallowing involves the epiglottis and a protective mechanism around the cords reinforces the importance of safe vocal techniques and breath management.
Observational imaging (flexible vs rigid scopes) demonstrates the dynamic separation and adduction of the cords during breathing and phonation.

The anatomy and function of the vocal cords underpin practical singing techniques, vocal training, and medical assessments of voice disorders.
Pubertal changes illustrate how physiological development affects voice range, timbre, and the practical challenges of training across adolescence.
The concept of vibration as the source of sound connects to broader acoustics and speech science principles.

The vocal cords are three-dimensionally structured tissues (muscle, ligament, mucosa) inside the larynx that open for breathing and close to generate sound during speaking and singing.
Swallowing involves the epiglottis covering the cords to protect the airway; coughing clears any material that enters the airway.
Sound arises from air-induced vibration of the cords, producing the initial tones of our voice.
Imaging techniques (flexible and rigid endoscopes) reveal these processes, though orientation on monitors may differ from anatomical orientation.
Puberty and gender differences affect vocal cord length and voice quality, with significant implications for singing technique and repertoire choices.