Corpus: Vocal ligament

The vocal ligament is an elastic ligament that extends between the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage and the thyroid cartilage.

The two vocal ligaments form the medial edge of the vocal folds, surrounding the glottis. They are supported by the vocal muscles, whose fibers radiate into them. The surface of the vocal ligaments facing the laryngeal lumen is covered by a mucous membrane composed of squamous epithelium.

The vocal ligaments correspond to the middle and deep layers of the lamina propria within the vocal folds. In the body-cover model, they are considered the transitional layer. Histologically, the vocal ligaments are composed of elastin, which provides elasticity, and collagen, which contributes to the firmness of the tissue. The fiber tracts are predominantly aligned parallel to the glottis, interspersed with isolated fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and macrophages.

The vocal ligaments produce sound when they vibrate due to the flow of exhaled air. The tension of the vocal ligaments, adjusted by the laryngeal muscles, determines pitch—high tones are produced when the ligaments are tensed, and low tones when they are relaxed. Typically, men have longer vocal cords, resulting in a deeper voice.