What Is the Vocal Tract?

In the human body, sound travels through a cavity called the vocal tract to end up as speech.
The vocal tract is the tube of structures that connects the throat and the head. These structures
all play a critical role in producing and shaping sound for speech. The vocal tract extends from
the voice box to the lips and nose. The shape of the cavity to create different resonances, which
result in different sounds, transforms the vibrations of the sound produced at the vocal cords. The
unique shape of the human vocal tract compared to other animals is what allows humans to
communicate with speech.

Vocal Tract Anatomy

The vocal tract consists of different structures and cavities as seen in the anatomical diagram. The
oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx are the sections of the vocal tract. All play an important
role in the production of speech.

Oral Cavity
The oral cavity, or the mouth, is one section of the vocal tract. The tongue, teeth, and lips are all
articulators that help shape the air of the vocal tract to form different types of speech sounds. The
stiff roof of the oral cavity is called the hard palate. The softer portion of the palate that ends with the
uvula is the soft palate. All of these structures in the oral cavity work together to create a wide variety
of sounds, from speech to the sound effects of beatboxing.

Nasal Cavity
The nasal cavity is important to the respiratory system because it warms and humidifies inhaled air
and filters out debris. It also has a role in speech. Some sounds, /m/, /n/, and /ng/, are nasal sounds.
These sounds are produced when air travels outward through the nasal cavity instead of through the
mouth. In addition to the nasal cavity's role as part of the vocal tract, there is also an olfactory region,
which sends information about smell to the brain.

The Pharynx
The pharynx refers to the upper throat between the oral and nasal cavities and the larynx. The
pharynx plays an important role in both speaking and eating. Air passes through the pharynx as part
of the respiratory system, which is important for breathing and speech. Food and liquid travel down
through the pharynx to the esophagus as part of the digestive system.
The muscles of the pharynx constrict to move food and liquid down through the throat and prevent
that material from entering the nasal cavity. This squeezing is also important to prevent material from
entering the airway, which might result in aspiration.
The pharynx is connected to the oral cavity at a right angle, which is unique among humans when
compared to other animals. This position is essential to being able to produce speech. After sound is
produced in the larynx, which is described in the next session, it is amplified in the cavity of the
pharynx and then shaped by the oral cavity.