Muteness or mutism (from Latin mutus, meaning 'silent') is an inability to speak, often caused by a speech disorder or surgery. Someone who is mute may be so due to the unwillingness to speak in certain social situations.

Those who are physically mute may have problems with the parts of the human body required for human speech (vocal cords, lungs, trachea, esophagus, mouth, or tongue, etc.).

Trauma or injury to Broca's area, located in the left inferior frontal cortex of the brain, can cause muteness.

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