LO1 Theory Flashcards
assessment revision
What is the power source?
Your lungs
What is the vibrating source?
Your larynx
What are the resonators?
Your pharynx, nasal cavity, and oral cavity
What are the articulators?
Lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, and aveolar ridge
Where is the thorax?
The part of the body between the neck and abdomen (the chest)
Describe the shape of the rib-cage
it is a cage like bell shaped structure. The rib-cage is narrower at the top and broader at the bottom, shorter at the front and longer at the back and sides
What is in the thorax?
The lungs fill most of the thorax and the rest of the space is taken up by the heart, oesophagus and tracheobronchial tree
What are the main muscles involved in breathing?
Diaphragm and the internal and external intercostal muscles
Describe Inspiration
The diaphragm flattens contracts and moves downwards. The external intercostal muscles contract due to the expansion of the
thorax helping the ribs move apart. The resulting air pressure changes generate air flow into the lungs. Elastic recoil forces increase
Describe Expiration
Once the inspiration is stopped the elastic recoil forces in the lungs causes expiration.
* The process reverses.
* Tidal expiration is passive.
* Forced (active) expiration (performance breathing) means the abdominal muscles contract to help control the diaphragm and airflow.
* The internal intercostal muscles contract pulling the ribs back together again.
Describe the anatomy of the larynx
The larynx is suspended by the hyoid bone. It is made up of 2 cartilages, the thyroid at the top and the cricoid at the bottom.
What’s the term for vocal fold vibration
Bernoulli Effect
What things effect the vocal fold vibrations?
Any change that affects this mucosal wave – stiffness of vocal fold layers, weakness or failure of closure, imbalance between R and L vocal folds from a lesion on one vocal fold – causes voice problems.
How do vocal fold vibrations affect pitch?
High Pitches = Vibrating at Higher Frequency rate, the length, size and tension of the folds are longer, thinner and taught.
Low Pitches = Vibrating at Lower Frequency rate, the length size and tension of the folds are, shorter, thicker, and loose.
What other factors affect pitch?
length, size, and tension of the folds; breath flow; vocal fatigue or damage
What are the functions of the resonators?
amplifies and adds new characteristics to the
sound waves produced in the larynx
Factors affecting tone
Breath control, the positioning of your velum, the positioning of your larynx, the shape and size of your vocal folds, choice of onsets and offsets
Why is good posture important?
If you hold poor posture this can be the cause of holding tension in the body which
can lead to the spread of tension in the vocal tract
Why is slouching bad?
If slouched this will also cut off the space needed which will allow you to expand the lungs and engage the abdominal muscles
Why is head position important in posture?
Pushing out your chin when reaching for high notes or lowering it for low notes will
cause a blockage of airflow in the vocal tract
