Definition of Larynx Larynx: A tube-shaped organ in the neck
that contains the vocal cords. The larynx is about 5 cm (2 in.)
long. It is part of the respiratory system and is located
between the pharynx and the trachea. Humans use the larynx to
breathe, talk, and swallow. Its outer wall of cartilage forms
the area of the front of the neck referred to as the Adam's
apple. The vocal cords, two bands of muscle, form a V inside the
larynx. Each time a person inhales, air goes into the nose or
mouth, then through the larynx, down the trachea, and into the
lungs. When a person exhales, the air goes the other way. The
vocal cords are relaxed during breathing, and air moves through
the space between them without making any sound. The vocal cords
tighten up and move closer together for speech. Air from the
lungs is forced between them and makes them vibrate, producing
the sound of a voice. The openings of the esophagus and the
larynx are very close together in the throat. When a person
swallows, a flap called the epig