Chapter 5 - Physiology of Phonation

Question 1

frequency

Answer 1

-measured in Hertz (Hz) number of cycles per sec of vibration
-objectively measurable physical property

Question 2

pitch

Answer 2

-perceptual psycho-acoustic correlate of frequency (how we perceive frequency
-our perception of pitch doesn’t match physical actual reality
-generally proportional to frequency

Question 3

types of pitch

Answer 3

optimal pitch and habitual pitch

Question 4

optimal pitch

Answer 4

-frequency of vibration most efficient for a pair of vocal folds, varies with age and sex

Question 5

habitual pitch

Answer 5

-frequency habitually used by a person, not always same as optimal pitch

Question 6

non-optimal pitch can cause

Answer 6

-vocal fatigue

Question 7

3 characteristics of VF that affect frequency

Answer 7

-mass per unit length, tense, and actual length

Question 8

mass of VF

Answer 8

-changes with length (mass changes when you lengthen or shorten VF)

Question 9

length of VF

Answer 9

-we can shorten/lengthen VF

Question 10

tension

Answer 10

-can be changed via cricothyroid (stretch) and thyroarytenoid (tense)

Question 11

intensity

Answer 11

-power per unit area (watts per sqm)
-objective

Question 12

loudness

Answer 12

-how we perceive intensity
-proportional to intensity

Question 13

increasing vocal intensity involves

Answer 13

-increasing transglottal pressure
-increasing medial compression of VF
-longer closed phase

Question 14

airflow in open or closed phase and vibration

Answer 14

-open = theres airflow
-closed = no airflow

ADDUCTED

Question 15

theories of VF vibration

Answer 15

-myoelastic aerodynamic theory
-titze’s self-oscillation theory

Question 16

myoelastic aerodynamic theory

Answer 16

-pressure builds up and forces VF apart
-pressure drops, VF slaps back together due to tissue elasticity and bernoulli effect (the more airflow, the more pressure drops)

Question 17

bernoulli effect

Answer 17

-airflow is inversely proportional to pressure
-as air flows, pressure drops (VF goes together like a vaccuum)

Question 18

limitations of myoelastic aerodynamic theory

Answer 18

-energy loss (due to acoustic and friction)
-needs asymmetry of forces during open/closed phases

Question 19

titze’s oscillation theory

Answer 19

-asymmetry of forces means one part of the cycle of vibration has different force from another part of cycle of vibration (2 sets of forces for each cycle of vibration)
-source of forces: external (driven oscillation) and internal (self-oscillation)
e.g. swing
-forces of positive and negative phases differ!

Question 20

vocal registers

Answer 20

-different modes of VF vibration

Question 21

3 main vocal registers

Answer 21

-pulse register = glottal fry
-modal register = chest voice
-falsetto regiter = head voice

Question 22

pulse register

Answer 22

-VFs are short and thick, irregular vibration
-possible involvement of false VF
-low frequency, low vibration, can’t shout
-closed phase is very long (90%)

Question 23

modal register

Answer 23

-all parts of VFs vibrate
-cover is loose, body vibrates
-wide range of frequency, vibration
-closed phase is longer than open but almost equal (60%)

Question 24

falsetto register

Answer 24

-high tension in cricothyroid muscle, lengthens the VF
-cover vibrates, muscle is loose
-breathy quality caused by slight glottic gap
-wide frequency, less vibration
-closed phase shorter (40%)

Question 25

age and sex effects on voice

Answer 25

-size of larynx grows more in males
-frequency decreases due to muscle mass
-resonance decreases due to large larynx