Exam 2 Prep Flashcards
Cricoid cartilage
Ring like cartilage resting atop the trachea
Most inferior of the laryngeal cartilage
Higher in posterior than anterior
Thyrohyoid membrane
Stretches across the space between the greater Cornu of the hyoid and the lateral thyroid
See page 194 for anatomical location
Cartilages of the larynx
3 unpaired cartilages:
Cricoid
Thyroid
Epiglottis
3 paired cartilages:
2 arytenoids
2 corniculates
2 cuneiforms (in aryepiglottic folds)
Thyroid cartilage
Largest of the laryngeal cartilages
Articulates with the cricoid cartilage below by means of paired processes that let it rock forward and backward at that joint
Arytenoid cartilage
Rides on the high-backed upper surface of the cricoid cartilage
Forms the posterior point of attachment for the vocal folds
Paired
Corniculate cartilage
Rides on the superior surface of each Arytenoid
prominent landmarks in the aryepiglottic folds
Articulates with the apex or superior process of the Arytenoid cartilage
Cuneiforms cartilage
Resides within the aryepiglottic folds
Provides a degree of rigidity to the folds
Cricothyroid joint
Thyroid and cricoid cartilages articulate with this joint
Allows the two cartilages to come closer together
Muscles attach to laryngeal cartilage
See photos and pages 214, 216-223
Thyrovocalis
Attaches to Arytenoid VOCAL process
Tenses the vocal folds
Responsible for adduction of the membranous portion of the vocal folds
Originates from the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage near the thyroid notch
Contraction draws thyroid and cricoid cartilages further apart in front
Glottal tensor
Infrahyoid muscles
Depress the hyoid bone
Consists of sternohyoid and omohyoid muscles
Pressure during the open phase of phonation
Subglottal pressure is greater than supraglottal pressure
Cause of vocal folds to return to resting position after being blown apart
Negative pressure between the folds
Elasticity of the vocal folds
What happens to airflow when the vocal folds make contact?
Air flow is completely halted and the cycle of vibration is complete
Adduction
Act of bringing the vocal folds together for phonation
Abduction
Process of drawing the vocal folds apart to terminate phonation
Bernoulli principle
Given a constant volume flow or air or fluid
At point of constriction there will be a DECREASE in pressure perpendicular to the flow and an INCREASE in velocity of the flow
Bernoulli principle in relation to phonation
Low pressure created behind the fast moving air column produces Bernoulli effect which causes the bottom of vocal folds to close followed by the top
Air pressure flowing between the vocal folds is lower than the pressure outside so the vocal folds vibrate together
Systems want to move to a place of lower pressure
Closure of the vocal folds cuts off the air column and releases a pulse of air
Posterior cricoarytenoid
SOLE abductors of vocal folds
See pages 216 and 217 for picture
Origin: posterior cricoid lamina
Insertion: posterior aspect of the arytenoids
Myoelastic aerodynamic theory
Elasticity refers to elastic recoil
Aerodynamic refers to the Bernoulli priniciple
Vibration of vocal folds depends on the elements embodied in the name of the theory
Myoelastic element i the elastic component of muscle (myo)
Associated soft tissues of the larynx, and the aerodynamic component is that of the airflow and pressure through this constricted tube
Combination of tissue elasticity, which causes the vocal folds to return to their original position after being distended and the Bernoulli effect, which helps promote this return by dropping the pressure at the constriction, accounts for the sustained vibration
Nasoendoscopy
Fiber-optic, flexible scope that is inserted transnasally
Through the nose and velopharyngeal port
Fiberoptic bundle provides an image of the vocal folds and laryngeal structure in real time
Excellent tool for swallowing evaluation
Changeable elements of vocal folds, affects pitch
Tension - when increased the natural frequency of the vibration will increase
Length - as the vocal folds lengthen it lowers the fundamental frequency
Mass - as mass of the vibrating body decreases, frequency of vibration will increase
Type of pressure brings the vocal folds together
Negative pressure
Fundamental frequency
The lowest frequency of vibration of the vocal folds or of a harmonic series
Increased fundamental frequency means we are lengthening the vocal folds, decreased means we are shortening.
As frequency increases so does pitch