glottis

n. The glottis is the space between the vocal cords. The glottis is open during normal breathing, and closed during phonation, in the production of speech. While whispering, and in the production of [h], the first consonant in the word house, the glottis is in a state of aspiration: the vocal cords are tense, causing turbulence at the glottis as air is forced through. In the production of a glottal stop, [|] - as in the interjection uh-oh! - the glottis is closed and subsequently opened with the built-up pressure causing an audible release.

- EMF