science

Glottis

Glottis is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Glottis rather than just read about it. In short: In humans the glottis (pl.: glottises or glottides) is the middle region of the larynx, where the vocal cords are located. Within this region is the opening between the vocal cords (the rima glottidis).

Key takeaways

Glottis belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Glottis to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Glottis from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In humans the glottis (pl.: glottises or glottides) is the middle region of the larynx, where the vocal cords are located. Within this region is the opening between the vocal cords (the rima glottidis). The glottis is crucial in producing sound from the vocal cords. In the bichir, an early lunged fish, the glottis is a slit shaped opening into the oesophagus. In many reptiles air can be passed across a partially closed glottis to produce a hissing sound. In snakes the glottis is found behind the tongue but can be extended out the side of the mouth while eating large prey.

Etymology From Ancient Greek γλωττίς (glōttís), derived from γλῶττα (glôtta), variant of γλῶσσα (glôssa, "tongue").

Function in humans

Phonation

As the vocal cords vibrate, the resulting vibration produces a "buzzing" quality to the speech, called voice or voicing or pronunciation. Sound production that involves moving the vocal cords close together is called glottal. English has a voiceless glottal transition spelled "h". This sound is produced by keeping the vocal cords spread somewhat, resulting in non-turbulent airflow through the glottis. In many accents of English the glottal stop (made by pressing the cords together) is used as a variant allophone of the phoneme /t/ (and in some dialects, occasionally of /k/ and /p/); in some languages, this sound is a phoneme of its own. Skilled players of the Australian didgeridoo restrict their glottal opening in order to produce the full range of timbres available on the instrument. The vibration produced is an essential component of voiced consonants as well as vowels. If the vocal cords are drawn apart, air flows between them causing no vibration, as in the production of voiceless consonants. The glottis is also important in the Valsalva maneuver.

Voiced consonants include /v/, /z/, /ʒ/, /d͡ʒ/, /ð/, /b/, /d/, /ɡ/, /w/. Voiceless consonants include /f/, /s/, /ʃ/, /t͡ʃ/, /θ/, /p/, /t/, /k/, /ʍ/, and /h/.

References

External links

States of the Glottis (Esling & Harris, University of Victoria) Universität Stuttgart Speech production De Menezes Lyra, Roberto (1999). "Glottis Simulator". Anesthesia & Analgesia. 88 (6): 1422–3. doi:10.1213/00000539-199906000-00044. PMID 10357358.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Glottis

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Glottis claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Glottis before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Glottis ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Glottis

In research: Glottis appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Glottis in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Glottis is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Human head and neck, Human voice, Larynx, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Glottis outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Glottis in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Glottis means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Glottis out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Glottis in simple terms?

Why does Glottis matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Glottis?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Glottis.