Three major speech organs are the trachea, vocal cords, and the larynx. In producing speech sounds, air ascends (flows) from the lungs through the trachea (windpipe) and vocal cords or folds. Inhalation (breathing in) is more rapid and exhalation (breathing out) is much more drawn out in normal speech. The first point whre airflow from the lungs encounters a controlable resistance is the larynx, commonly called the "Adam's apple." Speech sounds are created at the larynx.