Which of the following is true about the length of male vocal folds compared to female vocal folds?

The statement that male vocal folds are longer and vibrate less is accurate because it reflects the physiological differences between male and female vocal anatomy. Male vocal folds typically measure about 17 to 22 millimeters in length, while female vocal folds usually range from about 12 to 17 millimeters. This difference in length contributes to the distinct pitch and quality of voice noted between genders.

In terms of vibration, longer vocal folds have a lower frequency of vibration, resulting in deeper voice production. The mass and tension of these longer vocal folds mean they tend to vibrate more slowly compared to shorter vocal folds. Therefore, males generally produce lower frequency sounds, which accounts for the deeper pitch in male voices compared to the higher pitch of female voices that has shorter, thinner vocal folds.

Understanding this physiological difference is crucial for fields related to voice training, speech-language pathology, and music, as it informs both the development of voice and the assessment of vocal health across different populations.