Tag: Voice production

Over 60,000 people in the US are living without a voice box, a testament to the fact that speaking is a complex process involving multiple body parts, not just one. But the primary component that produces sound is housed within the throat, answering the question: Which part of the body do we use to speak?

A fascinating recent study from MIT revealed a specific brain circuit that essentially shuts down vocalization when we need to breathe in. This powerful biological coordination is the primary reason why it is not natural to speak while inhaling. Can you talk while inhaling? While technically possible to make sound, the results are physiologically and neurologically discouraged.

Did you know the larynx, or voice box, is not a stationary organ but a complex, movable structure? A network of muscles and ligaments allows for its precise movements, which are essential for fundamental functions like breathing, swallowing, and speaking.