[Cellular, extracellular and histological analysis of the vocal folds: correlation between structure and function]

The vocal folds, which are an important element of phonation, vibrate at the slightest sound. In order to provide a correct vibration, vocal folds have a complex histological structure which is continuously being unveiled thanks to the advancement of research techniques. Therefore, for about forty years, lots of works have permitted to define its qualitative and quantitative composition. Here, we are trying to make a synthesis of this literature, to point out how the histological structure of the vocal fold is used to produce a quality vibration. We used information acknowledged by most scientists, and other ones, more recent, developed thanks to new techniques of micro structural elements identification. These abundant information are, sometimes, in contradiction, given that lacunae are still numerous.