How Your Voice Works: Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy is the study of the body and physiology is the study of how the systems in the body function.

An understanding of how the cooperative components of your amazing vocal system work together will provide you with a solid fact-based foundation on which to build good vocal technique.

Some singers are sensation based; they are mostly concerned with what feels right. However, others may be interested in knowing some of the science behind this marvelously designed system.

In previous units, we have learned that the singing voice functions as a system; systems are comprised of components that must work cooperatively.

The system of the voice consists of three components: respiration (air, or energy source), phonation (the vibrator or oscillator) and resonation (a filtering and selective reinforcement system).

Respiration for singing is produced by the lungs, trachea, diaphragm, and other muscles of respiration. Air traveling upward from the lungs meets the vocal folds.

Phonation occurs in the larynx, which houses the vocal folds. Air pressure causes the vocal folds to vibrate as air is moved out of the lungs by the coordinated action of the diaphragm, ribcage, and respiratory muscles. As the vocal folds rapidly open and close, they convert air or aerodynamic energy to acoustic energy.

Articulation is the shaping of the vocal tract by various positions of the lips, lower jaw, tongue, velum or soft palate, pharyngeal walls, and larynx. The lips, teeth, tongue, soft palate, and hard palate are referred to as articulators because they modify the sound, creating vowels and consonants.

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