US Medical Term · anatomy
Vocal Cords
Cuerdas vocales
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Vocal Cords |
| Spanish (Español) | Cuerdas vocales |
| Chinese (中文) | 聲帶 |
| Korean (한국어) | 성대 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Dây thanh âm |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Vocal cords |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cordas vocais |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | สายเสียง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 声帯 |
What it means
The vocal cords, also called vocal folds, are two bands of smooth muscle tissue located inside the larynx (voice box). They open to allow breathing and close when you speak. When air from your lungs passes through the closed vocal cords, they vibrate rapidly to produce sound. The pitch of your voice depends on how tightly the muscles stretch the cords — tighter means a higher pitch. Men generally have longer, thicker vocal cords, which produces a lower voice. Common problems include laryngitis (swelling from infection or overuse), nodules (callus-like growths from vocal strain), polyps, and paralysis of one or both cords. Throat cancer can also affect the vocal cords, so persistent hoarseness should be evaluated.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My ENT doctor found nodules on my vocal cords from years of teaching.
Mi médico otorrinolaringólogo encontró nódulos en mis cuerdas vocales por años de enseñanza.
I lost my voice after surgery and the doctor said one vocal cord is paralyzed.
Perdí la voz después de la cirugía y el doctor dijo que una cuerda vocal está paralizada.
How long do I need to rest my vocal cords after this throat infection?
¿Cuánto tiempo necesito descansar mis cuerdas vocales después de esta infección de garganta?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026