Corpus: Glottis

In anatomy, the term glottis refers to the voice-producing apparatus, which includes the vocal folds, the vocal cartilages, and the space between them known as the rima glottidis.

The glottis forms the middle level of the larynx. Its width is primarily determined by the positioning of the vocal cartilages, which are controlled by the attached muscles — specifically, the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle and the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. These muscles enable the glottis to adjust its shape, varying from a narrow slit to a wide triangular opening. Additionally, the cartilages can execute rotational movements, which further influence the tension of the vocal folds and play a key role in sound production.