the higher frequencies of the voices of women and children are caused, not by higher tensions in their vocal cords, but simply by the fact that the larynx is smaller and the vocal cords therefore shorter. There is a surprising difference in this respect between grown-up men and women, the relevant larynx measurements being about 36 millimetres for men against about 26 for women. However, the larynxes of both boys and girls are of very similar size up to the age of puberty. The ‘breaking’ of boys’ voices is due, not to any change of tension in the cords, but to a rather sudden enlargement of
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