During puberty, what changes occur in the larynx and vocal cords that tend to affect boys more than girls?

• A. The larynx enlarges and drops, and the vocal cords lengthen and thicken
• B. The larynx shrinks and rises, and the vocal cords shorten
• C. The larynx remains the same, but the vocal cords thicken
• D. The larynx enlarges, but the vocal cords shorten

Answer: (A)

Puberty brings hormonal changes that reshape the voice box. In boys, testosterone drives the larynx to grow larger and move downward, enlarging the resonating chamber. At the same time, the vocal cords lengthen and thicken, so they vibrate more slowly. This combination lowers the pitch of the voice, producing the deeper voice typically heard in adolescent males. Girls also go through some changes, but the effects are usually less dramatic because the hormonal changes are different.

So the description that matches this is the larynx enlarging and dropping, with the vocal cords lengthening and thickening. The other options don’t fit because a shrinking or rising larynx, an unchanged larynx, or cords shortening would not produce the typical deepening of the male voice.