Final answer:
The male voice is generally lower than the female voice due to longer and thicker vocal folds in men, which are a result of the anatomical differences in the larynx and vocal cords that develop during puberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The male voice tends to be in a lower range than a female's voice because men have longer and thicker vocal folds. These folds, which are crucial for producing sound, are larger in males and contribute to deeper vocal pitches. The true vocal cords, or vocal folds, consist of membranous folds that vibrate as air passes over them, and their size and mass largely determine the pitch of the voice. When the muscles of the larynx relax or tighten, they change the tension on the vocal folds, which in turn alters the pitch of the sound produced.
During puberty, the larynx grows, particularly in males, significantly affecting the vocal pitch. This is often referred to as the voice 'breaking'. The vocal tract's anatomy, including the larynx, vocal cords, and resonance cavities such as the throat and mouth, work together to create the rich and varied human vocal range.