Phonation: Structures and Processes

Question 1

Biological functions of the larynx

Answer 1

• closure of the trachea to stop food and other substances from entering lungs
• Production of cough reflex to expel foreign substances that enter trachea
• closure of vocal folds to build subglottic pressure necessary for physcal tasks such as excretion and lifting heavy items

Question 2

Housed in the larynx is the ___ ___

Answer 2

vocal folds

• which vibrate to produce sound for voice

Question 3

vocal folds move toward the midline when they

Answer 3

adduct

Question 4

Vocal folds move away from the midline when they

Answer 4

abduct

Question 5

When a person is breathing quietly, vocal folds are

Answer 5

abducted

Question 6

the muscles of the tongue and various muscles of the mandible, skull and larynx are attached to the

Answer 6

HYOID BONE

Question 7

The laryns is suspended from the ___ ___

Answer 7

HYOID BONE!

which floats under the mandible, or lower jaw

Question 8

A leaf-shaped peice of cartilage medial to the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone that functions as a protective structure

Answer 8

EPIGLOTTIS!

• the epiglottis drops to cover the orifice of the larynx during swallowing

Question 9

Key cartilages of the larynx

Answer 9

• THYROID
• CRICOID
• ARYTENOID

Question 10

The largest laryngeal cartilage that protects and forms the anterior and lateral walls of the larynx

Answer 10

Thyroid cartilage

Question 11

The anterior surface of the thyroid cartilage is composed of two _______ that meet at the midline to form the _______ _____.

Answer 11

laminae or plates; thyroid angle

Question 12

The superior point of the thyroid angle commonly called the “Adam’s apple”

Answer 12

Thyroid notch

Question 13

The thyroid cartilage is open ________ and has two pairs of horns, known as the _______

Answer 13

posteriorly; cornu

Question 14

The pair of horns (cornu) that extend upward to meet with the hyoid bone is called

Answer 14

Superior Cornua

Question 15

The pair of horns (cornu) that extend downward to meet with the cricoid cartilage is called

Answer 15

Inferior Cornua

Question 16

CRICOID CARTILAGE

Answer 16

• some view as uppermost tracheal ring
• linked with the thryoid and arytenoid cartilages
• completely surrounds the trachea
• larger in the back than in the front

Question 17

Small pyramid-shaped cartilages connected to the superior posterior cricoid through the cricoarytenoid joint

• permits sliding and circular movements

Answer 17

Arytenoid cartilages

Question 18

laryngeal cartilage that many intrinsic laryngeal muscles connect to

Answer 18

Arytenoid cartilages; intrinsic laryngeal muscles connect to the arytenoids at teh two processes the vocal process and the muscular process.

Question 19

The vocal folds are attached to the arytenoids at the ____ ____

Answer 19

vocal process

Question 20

Muscles that both abduct and adduct the vocal folds attach to the __________ at the _______ ________.

Answer 20

arytenoids; muscular process

Question 21

CORNICULATE CARTILAGES

Answer 21

• small cone-shaped cartilages that sit on the apex of the arytenoids
• they assist in reducing the laryngeal opening during swallowing

Question 22

tiny cone-shaped cartilages located under the mucous membrane that covers the aryepiglottic folds

they stiffen or tense the aryepiglottic folds

Answer 22

Cuneiform cartilages

Question 23

Primarily responsible for controlling sound production

Answer 23

Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles

Question 24

Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles of the Larynx are

Answer 24

• thyroarytenoid (X)
  
  • vibrates and produces sound; has two parts internal (vocalis; VF) and external (thyromuscularis)
• lateral cricoarytenoid (X)
  
  • adducts VFs; increases medial compression
• transverse arytenoid (X)
  
  • adducts VFs
• oblique arytenoid (X)
  
  • pulls apex of arytenoids in a medial direction
• cricothyroid (X)
  
  • lengthens and tenses VFs
• posterior cricoarytenoid (X)
  
  • abducts VFs

Question 25

THYROARYTENOID MUSCLES

Answer 25

* paired * attached to the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages * divided into two muscle masses: * the internal thyroarytenoid ( vocalis muscle/vocal folds ) * the external thyroarytenoid ( thyromuscularis muscle)

Question 26

The primary portion of the thyroarytenoid muscle that vibrates and produces sound

Answer 26

Vocalis muscle or Vocal folds

Question 27

Muscle lateral to the vocalis that aids in vocal fold adduction when contracted

Answer 27

Thyromuscularis (external thyroarytenoid)

Question 28

Adductor laryngeal muscles

Answer 28

* lateral cricoarytenoid * transverse arytenoid * oblique arytenoid - these muscles act to bring the VF's together - VF adduction is supported when the oblique and transverse arytenoid muscles contract and pull the arytenoids closer together - lateral cricoarytenoid increases medial compression of the VF's by rotating the arytenoids medially

Question 29

The intrinsic laryngeal muscle attached to the cricoid and thyroid cartilages * lengthens and tenses the vocal folds resulting in pitch change

Answer 29

Cricothyroid muscle

Question 30

Abduction of the vocal folds is accomplished by the contraction of the ________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_

Answer 30

posterior cricoarytenoid muscle - the PCA muscle inserts into the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage and is the only muscle responsible for vocal fold abduction.

Question 31

EXTRINSIC LARYNGEAL MUSCLES

Answer 31

* primary function is to *_support_* larynx and *_fix_* its position * extrinsic laryngeal muscles have - * one attachment to a structure _within the larynx_ and * one attachment to structure _outside the larynx_ * all extrinsic muscles are attached to **hyoid bone** and *_lower_* or *_raise_* the position of the larynx within the neck * Innervations are generally provided by : * CN V (trigeminal) * CN VII (Facial) * CN X (Vagus) * CN XII (Hypoglossal) * portions of cervial spinal nerves C1-C3 * Two kinds : ***elevators*** and ***depressors***

Question 32

Elevators | (Suprahyoid muscles)

Answer 32

* attaches above the hyoid bone * primary function: elevation of the larynx * suprahyoid muscles are: * digastric (V, VII) * geniohyoid (XII, C1) * mylohyoid (V) * stylohyoid (VII) * hyoglossus (XII) * genioglossus (XII)

Question 33

Depressors | (Infrahyoid muscles)

Answer 33

* attach below the hyoid bone * Primary function: depression of the larynx * Infrahyoid muscles are : * Thyrohyoid (XII, C1) * Omohyoid (C1-C3) * Sternothyroid (C1-C3) * Sternohyoid (C1-C3)

Question 34

3 LAYERS OF THE VOCAL FOLDS

Answer 34

* **Epithelium** (outer cover) * **Lamina Propria** (middle layer) - * has 3 layers of its own: superficial, intermediate, and deep * **Vocalis Muscle** (body) - provides stability and mass to the vocal fold

Question 35

ARYEPIGLOTTIC FOLDS

Answer 35

* composed of ring of connective tissue and muscle extending from tips of the arytenoids to the epiglottis * Separates the laryngeal vestibule from the pharynx and helps preserve the airway

Question 36

VENTRICULAR (FALSE) VOCAL FOLDS

Answer 36

* vibrate only at very low fundamental frequencies and usually not during normal or typical phonation * compresses during activities such as coughing and lifting heavy items