Normal Phonatory Function

Question 1

What is the mucosal wave responsible for?

Answer 1

VF vibration

Question 2

What are the 2 layers of tissue over the vocalis portion of the thyroarytenoid muscle?

Answer 2

Cover (1st layer)

Transition (2nd layer)

Question 3

What is the official name of the cover of the vocalis portion of the thyroarytenoid muscle?

Answer 3

Superficial lamina propria = Reinke’s space

Question 4

What are the two portions of the thyroarytenoid?

Answer 4

Thyromuscularis and the thyrovocalis

Question 5

How is the mucosal wave formed?

Answer 5

The two layers slide across each other

Question 6

How does the mucosal wave travel?

Answer 6

Across the superior 2/3 of the VF

Question 7

The cells become ____ dense as you go deeper into the VF.

Answer 7

more

Question 8

No mucosal wave will result in what?

Answer 8

Abnormal phonation

Question 9

What position are the VF in during nonphonatory exhalation?

Answer 9

AB-ducted

Question 10

When are the VF most widely AD-ducted?

Answer 10

Forced inhalation

Question 11

When are the VF the longest?

Answer 11

During at rest breathing

Question 12

When are the VF the shortest?

Answer 12

During the production of low notes (bottom of pitch range).

Question 13

What are the two glottises of the VF?

Answer 13

Cartilaginous glottis and the muscular glottis

Question 14

What happens to the VF during whisper phonation?

Answer 14

Only the anterior 2/3 approximate but not firmly; the posterior 1/3 remains AB-ducted, forming the “glottal chink”

Question 15

Fundamental frequency is related to the _____ and ______ of the vocal folds.

Answer 15

Length and thickness

Question 16

Short, thick, lax VF will vibrate ______ and have a ______ pitch.

Answer 16

Slower; lower

Question 17

Long, thin, tense VF will vibrate ______ and have a ______ pitch.

Answer 17

Faster; higher

Question 18

Vocalizing at higher pitches requires lengthening the VF to do what 3 things?

Answer 18

Reduce mass per unit length
Increase tension
Increase elasticity

Question 19

What muscles are responsible for lengthening the VF?

Answer 19

Contraction of the cricothyroids and maybe a contraction of the cricopharyngeus

Question 20

What is required, pressure wise, to increase pitch?

Answer 20

Increasing sub-glottal pressure

Question 21

How does increasing sub-glottal pressure required to increase pitch create a paradoxical AB-ducting effect?

Answer 21

When we start increasing the amount of air pressure, it AB-ducts the VF. However, for phonation, we want the VF to be AD-ducted! Therefore, it takes more muscular effort to sing at a high pitch to keep the VF together for phonation.

Question 22

Vocalizing at higher pitches requires what two things?

Answer 22

Increasing medial compression

Increased glottal airflow rate

Question 23

Vocalizing at lower pitches requires what two things?

Answer 23

Relaxation of the cricothyroids

Simultaneous contraction of the thyroarytenoids

Question 24

Contraction of the thyroarytenoids causes what to happen to the VF?

Answer 24

Shortens folds

Thickens folds

Question 25

What is it called when the pitch range is extended beyond the normal stretching of the VF?

Answer 25

Falsetto voice production

Question 26

What register is our normal talking voice in?

Answer 26

Chest

Question 27

What is glottal fry?

Answer 27

The opposite of falsetto; it's when the VF are tightly approximated, so there is a low airflow rate and a low subglottal pressure. Results in a harsh vocal quality.

Question 28

What is a vocal register?

Answer 28

Pattern of laryngeal and VF adjustments which prevail through a series of pitches. At the limit, VF adjust to a new approximation contour, which results in abrupt changes in vocal quality.

Question 29

What are the 4 vocal registers?

Answer 29

1) glottal fry or pulse register 2) modal or chest register 3) midvoice register 4) falsetto register

Question 30

What do vocal registers mean for our evaluation of an individual's voice?

Answer 30

Someone might be using the wrong vocal register for speech. When you use the wrong register, you're using abnormal muscular tension. Too much muscular tension can cause strain on the voice and result in a voice disorder.

Question 31

Changes in tension, length, and approximation of the VF can affect what 3 things?

Answer 31

Frequency, intensity, and quality

Question 32

What areas are our resonators?

Answer 32

Supraglottal areas

Question 33

Resonation gives voice what two things?

Answer 33

Quality or timbre

Question 34

What is acoustic efficiency?

Answer 34

There are certain optimal resonance configurations which result in efficient intensities with full amplifications or harmonics

Question 35

Higher frequencies are best resonated by _____ degree of pharyngeal tension. Lower frequencies are best resonated by ____ degree of pharyngeal tension.

Answer 35

High; low (more relaxed pharynx)

Question 36

What is the resonator with the most variability in size and shape?

Answer 36

Oral cavity

Question 37

Inadequate velopharyngeal closure results in what?

Answer 37

Excessive nasality

Question 38

A change in the velum position affects what three resonating cavities?

Answer 38

Pharynx, nasal cavity, and oral cavity

Question 39

What is the site of closure between the nasal cavity and the velum?

Answer 39

Passavant's Pad

Question 40

What was the neurochronaxic theory?

Answer 40

The theory that each vibratory cycle of the VF was initiated by a nerve impulse to the vocalis muscle via the recurrent/vagus nerve, and that the frequency of the voice was dependent upon the rate of impulses delivered.

Question 41

Why was the neurochronaxic theory invalid?

Answer 41

Because the recurrent nerve is longer on the left side than the right side - the VF wouldn't vibrate synchronously

Question 42

If the neurochronacix theory were true, patients with tracheotomies would be able to do what?

Answer 42

Phonate... but they can't! The airstream is required to produce voice.

Question 43

When was the myoelastic aerodynamic theory introduced?

Answer 43

1843

Question 44

Define each part: aero, dynamic, myo, and elastic

Answer 44

Aero - air pressure and flow Dynamic - movement and change Myo - muscular involvement Elastic - ability to return to original state

Question 45

How does the Bernoulli Effect cause AD-duction to occur?

Answer 45

The Bernoulli Effect occurs when the velocity of subglottal pressure increases while approaching and passing through a constricted glottis. The increased velocity creates negative pressure between and just below the medial edge of the vocal folds. The vocal folds are therefore AD-ducted because of the negative pressure.

Question 46

What is significant about the juncture of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the VF?

Answer 46

The greatest amount of displacement from midline occurs there! It is also, therefore, the greatest point of friction between the two VF. This is why secondary pathologies (nodules, polyps) almost always appear there first!

Question 47

Why does the posterior portion (cartilagenous portion) of the VF vibrate less?

Answer 47

Because of the weight of the vocal processes in the back