849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure

2023.04.29 – 0849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure

VOICE BOX

Sub-glottal Pressure

OK, so ‘sub’ is ‘below’, so this is the pressure below the glottis. A ‘glottal stop’ is the stop-start airflow from your throat in a word such as ‘uh-oh’ or when the word ‘butter’ is said without the middle t’s: ‘buh-er’. Indeed, ironically, the word ‘glottal’ also includes a glottal stop.

Those sounds are made by closing and opening of the vocal folds. If you say ‘butter’ in the usual way and gently and slowly, and then without the t’s, you should be able to feel the slight and momentary resistance that your folds are under before air is allowed to flow again.

We also use sub-glottal pressure as we hold your breath as you push or pull, say lift something heavy or more dramatically, give birth, or do resistance training. The pressure in the lungs helps tense surrounding muscles to give stability and strength to make exertion easier. That’s a lot of strain on the small glottal ‘valve’ and a lot of tension being held in the neck (and potentially if continued, a sore throat and headache). 

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