Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms Flashcards
Respiratory system
Energy Source; Vital to speech production because without a steady supply of air from the lungs, speech would not occur; involves lungs, trachea, rib cage, thorax, abdomen, diaphragm and other major muscle groups
Laryngeal system
Voice System; Consists primarily of the larynx
Supralaryngeal system
The Filter; Compromised of the pharynx
Thoracic cavity
Chest cavity
Diaphragm
Major muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity
External intercostals
Located between the ribs; works with diaphragm to inhale
Internal intercostals
Located between ribs and deep to the external intercostals;works with gravity to exhale
Sternum
Breast bone
Trachea
Windpipe
Larynx
Voice box; composed mainly of muscle and cartilages, attaches inferiorly to trachea and superiorly to hyoid bone, important in maintaining air pressure in the thoracic cavity during strenuous activities such as giving birth, heavy object lifting and elimination
Hyoid bone
“floating” bone; Broad curtain- like ligament attached to the larynx
Vocal folds
Vocal chords; elastic folds of tissue primarily composed of muscles, attach anteriorly to thyroid cartilage and posteriorly to arytenoid cartilages
Thyroid catrilage
Most anterior cartilage of the larynx to which the vocal folds attach; more sharply angled in males than in females explaining why males have them more prominently
Arytenoid cartilage
Attaches to the superior portion of the cricoid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Encircles the larynx; looks somewhat like a class ring
Glottis
Space between the vocal folds
Subglottal pressure
“air pressure”
Bernoulli’s Effect
Aerodynamic principle that occurs when the rapid flow of air through the glottis causes a simultaneous drop in air pressure, resulting in the vocal folds being sucked together
Phonation
The vibration of the vocal folds in creation of a vocal sound
Voiced phonemes
Sounds produced with vocal fold vibration; /z/, /b/, /r/, /m/, /v/, /l/, /d/, /g/
Voiceless phonemes
Sounds produced without vocal fold vibration; /s/, /f/, /p/, /t/, /h/
Abduction
In quiet breathing the vocal folds remain apart to allow airflow from the lungs through the glottis to the oral and nasal cavities
Adduction
In producing voiced phonemes the vocal folds are brought together
Fundamental Frequency
Basic rate of vibration in the vocal folds; during phonation the vocal folds open and close at the rate of 125 times per second in males and 215 times per second in females; responsible for habitual pitch
Habitual Pitch
Inherent voice pitch
Epiglottis
“Guardian of the airways”; Cartilage of the larynx that diverts food away from the trachea and toward the esophagus to “avoid things going down the wrong pipe”