34. Treating the Wonder that is the Voice Box | Dr. Omid Mehdizadeh

“Voice box” might be the most misleading term in all of human anatomy. It makes a very complex organ sound terribly simple. In truth, the voice box is a set of paired muscles no thicker than a fingernail that do double duty. The delicate muscles produce sound, and they close on cue to protect our lungs as we swallow. ‘It’s one of the most intricate and beautiful structures in the human body,” says Dr. Omid Mehdizadeh. He’s an otolaryngologist, which means he specializes in surgeries in the sinuses, ears and neck. But it’s the voice box that lured him into his specialty where he treats voice and swallow disorders. He did his residency at New York University, where he treated a number of opera singers. They use their voice boxes the way athletes use their arms and legs, and, often, injuries result. Singing several times a week, they develop nodules, cysts and even bruises. Listen to this episode to learn how Dr. Mehdizadeh treats this remarkable structure: the simple-sounding voice box.