What is the voice box called?

The voice box is called the larynx. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a short, cartilage-framed tube at the top of the trachea.

What it is

  • A short, cartilage-framed tube at the top of the trachea.
  • Contains the vocal cords.
  • Produces the voice and guards the airway during swallowing.

Where it is

  • In the front of the neck, at the level of the fourth to sixth cervical vertebrae.
  • Between the pharynx above and the trachea below.
  • Its most prominent cartilage (thyroid cartilage) forms the 'Adam's apple'.

Source:

Last verified: 2026-07-18

  • Best Anatomy Answers is an educational reference about human anatomy. It is not medical advice — for any health concern, talk to a licensed medical professional.

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