What is the Larynx? The larynx, or voice box, is an area in the throat that contains an intricate mixture of cartilage and muscles. Not only is it responsible for producing our voice, but also performs other complex functions such as protecting our airway during swallowing. The larynx is divided into three separate regions: the supraglottic larynx, the glottis, and the subglottic larynx. The glottis is the region that contains the true vocal cords, thin strips of cartilage that vibrate together to produce sound. It is protected in the front by the large thyroid cartilage, which can be felt as the "Adam's apple" in our neck. When you feel for your Adam's apple, directly under that large piece of firm cartilage is the voice box, or the glottic portion of the larynx where the true vocal cords are located. Directly above the actual voice box is the supraglottic larynx, or ... read more on Laryngeal Cancer: The Basics