What anatomical feature differentiates male vocal cords from female vocal cords?

The differentiation between male and female vocal cords primarily hinges on anatomical variations in length and thickness. In general, male vocal cords tend to be longer and thicker than those of females. This distinction arises during puberty when the larynx grows, particularly in males, leading to a deeper voice associated with the larger and thicker vocal cords.

Longer and thicker vocal cords vibrate at lower frequencies, which results in a deeper pitch for men compared to women, who typically have shorter and thinner vocal cords that vibrate at higher frequencies, producing a higher-pitched voice. This variation plays a significant role in defining the pitch and tonal quality of voice between the sexes.

While other factors such as position in the larynx, color, and muscle fiber composition may have roles in vocal sound production, they do not serve as primary differentiators between male and female vocal cords in terms of anatomical structure and function relevant to voice pitch.