Vocal tract

As the vocal tract cavities are referred to in the cervical region in humans and animals that cause a spectral filtering of the sound stimulus and thus the formation of different timbres in the articulation of sounds. In analogy to the extension tube in wind instruments of the vocal tract because of the similarities in the sound production is often also referred to as the extension tube.

In mammals and humans, the vocal tract begins at the larynx and consists of the pharynx, the oral cavity and the nasal cavities and ends with the lips. The glottis produces an undifferentiated sound that is changed in the vocal tract by the different shaping of the mouth and lips by the different tongue and jaw position to a speech or vocal sound. In humans, can be increased by a corresponding vocal training of the vocal approach in the vocal tract and thus changes the sound quality of the speaking and singing voice and their endurance.

In birds, the vocal tract from the trachea, vocal head, beak cavity and the upper part of the esophagus is composed.