Glottis

Located inferior to the epiglottis and superior to the cricoid cartilage, the glottis plays a role both in breathing and in phonation.
During breathing, it represents the passage that allows the inhaled air to reach the trachea and the exhaled air to exit the trachea; during phonation, on the other hand, it constitutes the opening through which the air necessary for the vibration of the vocal cords filters, a vibration which is fundamental for the emission of sounds from the mouth.
The glottis can be affected by various medical conditions, including: acute laryngitis due to inflammation of the vocal cords, chronic laryngitis resulting from paralysis of the vocal cords, laryngospasm, and vocal cord cancer.