larynx function Flashcards

1
Q

larynx is a

A

sphincter

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2
Q

sphincters are

A

biological valves

-open and closing allows certain basic and higher biological functions

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3
Q

unique aspects of laryngeal sphincter

A
  • cartilaginous frame
  • opposing functions for basic life functions
  • superimposed role for speech
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4
Q

inhalation/exhalation

A
  • larynx opens to allow air in and out of lungs
  • larynx closes to protect airway from foreign substances
  • larynx remains open during most non-speech respiration
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5
Q

coughing

A

forceful closing of vocal folds and downwards rocking of arytenoids

  • high subglottal pressure generated
  • pressure blows VFs apart to hopefully expel substance and keep airway clear
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6
Q

glottal stop

A

tiny communicative cough

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7
Q

swallowing

A

VFs closed

-epiglottis descends and larynx pulled up to shut laryngeal inlet

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8
Q

each of these functions are

A

reflexive

-can be modified to some extent during different activities

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9
Q

phonation

A

self sustained oscillation of the VFs for speech or song

  • an intentional, volitional act
  • phonation is NOT another word for speech
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10
Q

VF vibrations occur for

A

speech
song
emotional vocalizations
-VF oscillation that occurs during emotional vocalizations are not volitional
-each of these has distinctive neural correlates

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11
Q

vocalization is

A

general term that can encompass VF oscillation

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12
Q

vocal fold characteristics ____ and ____ determine ____ ____ and ____ of speech and sound

A

muscle tension and Psub
frequency, loudness, and quality
-vowels, semi-vowels, liquids and voiced consonants
-transmit tiny puffs of air to vocal tract that excites air column

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13
Q

determines pitch of voice

A

fundamental frequency F0

BUT VF vibration is a biomechanical event while pitch is a percept

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14
Q

vocal fold characteristics

A
  • VF change in mass and length over a lifespan
  • males spike in puberty and are longer than females
  • grow exponentially as infant than plateau
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15
Q

vibrations of VFs is a ____ process

A

passive

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16
Q

active processes

A

adducting, changing length/tension, abducting

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17
Q

conditions for initiating phonation

A

-VF adduction or vocal attack
-LCA causes artyenoids to rock together bringing folds towards midline
(voluntary for speech involuntary for laughing crying etc)
-Psub>Psupra (transglottal pressure difference)
-Psub > Laryngeal resistance

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18
Q

phonation pressure threshold

A

minimun pressure (lung pressure) required to initiate phonation
3-5 cm H20
-higher pressures necessary to maintain typical and loud speech
-if pressure is equalized above and below glottis phonation will stop

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19
Q

VF cycle

A

one phenomena

  • begin with adducted folds
  • transglottal pressure difference causes inferior vocal folds to begin separating
  • opening pressure transmitted to superior fold
  • puff of air released into supraglottal cavity
  • bottom of vocal folds come back together followed by upper folds
  • cycle repeats
20
Q

sustaining phonation requires

A

-VFs be actively approximated at midline
-power source maintained (Psub)
-asymmetrics in vocal fold oscillation
-differences in how energy is transferred to the tissue during opening vs closing of the VF
adduction force allows pressure below glottis to build up - Psub
-once Psub > Psupra VF are blown apart passively
-breif period of opening dissipates pressure difference
-VFs come back together

21
Q

what causes VFs to come back together

A

elastic restoring forces

-elasticity in the tissues

22
Q

non-linear interactions

A
  • pattern of cover body coupling changes over vocal fold cycle
  • different glottal shapes & bernoulli effect
  • convergent pattern in opening allows intraglottal pressure to build up
  • VFs separate
23
Q

divergent pattern in closing reduces ____ _____

A

intraglottal pressure

-bernoulli effect reduces intraglottal pressure during closing

24
Q

bernoulli effect

A

as air passes through VFS the velocity increase while pressure decrease, this allows VFS to come back together
**pressure difference
velocity increases between glottis because pressure drops can increase in VFS coming back together
return to midline during phonation

25
terminating phonation
- increased glottal resistance - insufficent air support - VFs characteristically rocked away from midline
26
frequency control
- TA - internal control - CT - external control - stylohyoid - external control - adjust the length and tension of the vocal folds - as vocal folds are stretched the effective mass is reduced contributing to a higher resonant freq
27
sub-tracheal pressure
- increasing subtracheal pressure can increase F0 - secondary mechanism because an increse in 1 cm H20 of lung pressure only increases F0 by 2-4 Hz * inefficient: an octave change would require an increase 30-60 cm H20
28
3 ways to control loudness
- changes made below the larynx (breath control, changing lung pressure) - changes made in the larynx (activity in the laryngeal muscles) - changes made above the larynx (adjustments in the vocal tract)
29
loudness vs intensity
- intensity and SPL are physical measures of the amplitude of a signal (acoustic) - loudness is tha auditory-perceptual correlate of intensity (pitch vs F0)
30
changes made below the larynx
- lung pressure: vocalists can also increase volume by putting more air through their vocal instruments - glottal source power increases by 6 dB for every doubling of the lung pressure above the minimum pressure necessary to start sustained phonation
31
changes made IN larynx
- increasing medial compression of the VF increases intensity - intensity increases 6 dB with each doubling of pitch which equates to a difference of over 12 dB over the average opera singers range * high notes sung with high lung pressures will tend to be the loudest sounds a vocalist can produce
32
muscles that can increase medial compression
- LCA & CT - necessary to contain increasing tracheal pressure - causes VFs to separate faster, return to midline faster, and stay closed longer - pattern increases efficiency in converting energy from tracheal pressure into acoustic energy
33
changes made ABOVE larynx
-opening up the oral tract is associated with increases in intensity -widening the pharynx, closing the VP port, lowering the tongue, opening the jaw megaphone effect: lowers radiation impedance so acoustic energy is radiated more effectively
34
simultaneous attack
-coordination between VF closure and expiratory pressure buildup are time aligned - 'zany'
35
breathy attack
expiration starts before VF adduction 'harry'
36
glottal attack
VF adduction begins before expirations mostly for affect (stressed words, Okay!)
37
hard glottal attack
- VFs come together with excessive force | - can produce long term damage
38
breathy phonation
- VFs are not fully adducted for speech | - sometimes occurs when posterior VFs do not close in women (glottal chink)
39
attack
way in which phonation is initiated
40
phonation registers
different perceptual voice qualities that correspond to changes in phonation
41
modal register
pattern of phonation used for normal speech - uses typical pattern of opening/closing - sustainable range of muscle tension - can even produce high pitches within this register - singers are trained to produce modal register throughout pitch range
42
glottal fry
2nd and lowest register - ultra low range of vocal fold vibration (<90 Hz) - not typical for speech - requires loosely adducted floppy VFs - low sub-glottal air pressure
43
falsetto
third and highest register - squeaky voice - extremely high range of pitch for an individual - vocal folds are extremely long and thin - shape may be bowed and many not even contract
44
whistle
register above falsetto | -VF crease to vibrate and air whistles through narrow opening
45
pressed phonation
medial compression is greatly increased - produces a harsh sharp quality - habitual pressed voice is damaging to VF tissue in long and short run
46
breathy phonation
results from when the VFs do not completely close - air escapes between folds - adds noise to vocal quality - inefficient air usage that also make voice softer - not damaging if behavioral BUT could result in growths on VFs
47
whisper phonation
* phonation does NOT occur at whisper - VFs are forcefully abducted to prevent vibration - air passing over VFs becomes turbulent producing a sound - turbulent sound source shaped by vocal tract - inefficient use of air and fatiguing to larynx