Mod 6 Physiology of phonation

Question 1

Bernoulli effect

Answer 1

The more rapidly a gas or fluid flows
through a section of a tube, the smaller the pressure against the sides of the tube (vocal folds) —> vocal folds sucked into low pressure area which opens them.. (vol of air goes up, pressure goes down)

Question 2

Myoelastic-aerodynamic theory

Answer 2

“myo” = muscle, “elastic” for elasticity,
“aerodynamic” refers to airflow and
pressure changes
1) Air pressure opens the folds
2) Elasticity and pressure changes close
them

Question 3

body-cover theory

Answer 3

the vocal folds have three anatomical layers (outer, inner and innermost) and three functional layers. The cover (elastic) is primarily what vibrates, while the body is held in
position by muscle tension

Question 4

elasticity

Answer 4

-elastic forces overcome pressures, closing glottis again, cover of vocal folds are elastic

Question 5

non-speech laryngeal functions

Answer 5

1)breathing: airway open for quiet and forced inspiration and expiration
2)coughing/swallowing: epiglottis/larynx guards against entrance of any substance into the trachea and lungs
4)thoracic fixation: compression of air by the respiratory pump and tight closure of the laryngeal valve ; functions: lifting and sneezing

Question 6

speech functions

Answer 6

1)phonation: vocal folds open and close-interaction between subglottal pressure and elasticity
2)intonation:
3)voice quality/register
4)whispering

Question 7

glottal (phonatory) cycle

Answer 7

1) expiration: phonation, 90% of respiratory cycle
2)adduction: inter-arytenoid muscles (transverse and oblique) move arytenoud cartilages together, lateral cricoarytenoud muscle rotates cartilaged to bring vocal processes of the two arytenouds together—> closes glottis
3)sub-glottal pressure increases; when vocal folds are adducted the air below glottis is fixed, as exhalation continues lungs compress and pressure increases
4)release: pressure builds until adduction of folds cannot withstand, air pushed folds open, do not open until phonation is stopped
5)sub-glottal pressure decreases
6)elastic recoil, glottis closes, bernoilli effect helps

Question 8

mucosal wave

Answer 8

describes the traveling wave of mucosa from the inferior to superior margin and continuing laterally toward the boundary between the vocal folds and the laryngeal ventricle

Question 9

modal register

Answer 9

-most effective way to use air supply to phonate
-requires 3-5 cm H20 subglottal pressure
- adult can phonate /a/ 15 seconds

Question 10

role of muscles in modifying fundamental frequency(pitch) increase

Answer 10

-increase pitch: vocal folds are lengthened and tensed
- Cricothyroid muscle, thyrovocalis
-Larynx elevated by geniohyoid, genioglossus contraction

Question 11

role of muscles in modifying fundamental frequency(pitch) decrease

Answer 11

vocal folds are relaxed, mass is increased
Thyromuscularis

Question 12

fundamental frequency average women men and children

Answer 12

males- 120 Hz
females- 220 Hz
children- 250 Hz

Question 13

glottal fry register

Answer 13

-creaky voice, pulse register, glottal closed for most of cycle
-low pitch, rough voice
-lower subglottal pressure
-vocal folds thick and floppy, vibrate irregularly

Question 14

falsetto register

Answer 14

-voice is thin
-vocal folds lengthened, thinned
-highest register 250-600 Hz

Question 15

pressed phonation register

Answer 15

-increase in vocal fold compression
-harsh or strident voice quality
-phonation is louder, stronger
-vocal fold abuse

Question 16

breathy register

Answer 16

-incomplete vocal fold adduction, innefficient use of airflow
-typical for female
-may be caused by polyps
-extreme case, vocal folds may not contact eachother

Question 17

whisper vocal register

Answer 17

-similar to breathy voice but without phonation, vocal folds approximated but do not vibrate
-airflow turbulent produces fricative-type sound
-contraction of the LCA and oblique arytenoid w/out transverse arytenoid
-posterior glottic clink is formed

Question 18

pitch changed primary mechanism

Answer 18

primary: cricothyroid and thyrovocalis
secondary: PCA as an anchor, geniohyoid and genioglossus elevate larynx

Question 19

muscles involved in lowering pitch

Answer 19

thyromuscularis relaxes the vocalis, pulls the thyroid and cricoid together

Question 20

1)Contracting the cricothyroid and vocalis muscles ____ and ____ the vocal folds, raising the F0
2) Contracting the thyromuscularis ____ and ____ the vocal folds, lowering the F0

Answer 20

1) Contracting the cricothyroid and vocalis muscles lengthens and tenses the vocal folds, raising the F0
2) Contracting the thyromuscularis shortens and relaxes the vocal folds, lowering the F0

Question 21

muscles and pressure involved in increasing intensity (loudness)

Answer 21

-Increase subglottal pressure with forceful exhalation
-Increase compression (LCA, interarytenoids) and medial tension (thyrovocalis)

Question 22

when a speaker wants to speak loudly, what happens within the larynx

Answer 22

there is increased subglottal pressure and increased compression by intrinsic muscles