Phonatory Mechanisms

Question 1

Phonation

Answer 1

Also called Voicing - occurs very quickly

Phonation is the sound that is produced at the level of the larynx

The vocal folds (vf) are responsible for producing phonation or voicing

Question 2

Valving

Answer 2

The vocal folds produce voicing by valving the air stream that flows through the larynx from the lungs

Valving is the abduction (open) and adduction (close) of the vocal folds

When the vocal folds valve the air stream, air will flow through the glottis in bursts

Question 3

During speech, the vocal folds are ?

Answer 3

In an adducted or partially adducted state

The vocal folds do not have to be completely adducted in order to produce voicing

Question 4

Voicing requires

Answer 4

both muscular and aerodynamic forces

Question 5

Phonation Phases

Answer 5

1) PREPHONATORY phase
- vocal fold approximation
- medial compression

2) ATTACK Phase
- bernoulli effect
- initiation of phonation
- types of vocal attacks

Question 6

prephonatory phase

Answer 6

• vocal folds move from an abducted to an adducted or partially adducted state
• duration of this phase varies with the phrase length
• vocal folds do not have to complete adduct in the Prephonatory Phase

Question 7

Muscular force in the prephonatory phase

Answer 7

muscular force is used to adduct the vocal folds

Lateral cricoarytenoid + interarytenoids (transverse + oblique) are the PRIMARY muscles of ADDUCTION

Question 8

Vocal Fold Approximation

Answer 8

The movement of the folds toward the midline

As the folds approximate, they do not always make complete contact

However, they will make partial contact

Approximation requires the use of ADDUCTOR MUSCLES

Question 9

Approximation requires the use of what muscles

Answer 9

ADDUCTOR MUSCLES

Question 10

Midline

Answer 10

An imaginary line in the center of the vocal folds. As the vocal folds adduct, they move towards midline

Question 11

Medial Compression

Answer 11

The extent to which the vocal folds are approximated

The vocal folds are pressed together at midline; however, they do not have to completely adduct along their length

Medial compression of the folds is achieved by the ADDUCTOR muscles

Question 12

Medial Compression achieved by which muscles ?

Answer 12

ADDUCTOR MUSCLES

Question 13

Attack Phase

Answer 13

Begins with the vocal folds adducted or partially adducted

Occurs throughout the vibratory cycle

As with the prephonatory phase, the duration of the Attack Phase will also vary with phrase length

Question 14

Bernoulli Effect or Bernoulli Principle

Answer 14

Aerodynamic law that explains how the vocal folds actually vibrate

Question 15

Bernoulli Effect Explained

Answer 15

If the volumed of the air flow is constant, then the velocity of this air flow will increase when it reaches a point of constriction

At the point of constriction, the pressure of the flow will decrease

AKA

Vocal folds provide a source of constriction in the vocal tract. Without them, air would pass through unobstructed

The constriction produced by the vocal folds will cause the air flowing through the folds to increase in velocity

Think of the trachea as a tube. The larynx is situated superiorly to the trachea. The vocal folds are housed within the larynx. The folds serve as a point of constriction as they valve the air stream that is emitted by the lungs.

Question 16

Initiation of Phonation

Answer 16

1) To begin phonation, you use the adductor muscles to draw the folds toward the midline

2) As the folds move towards midline, subglottal pressure increases

3) Subglottal pressure is the pressure of the air below the level of the folds. It’s generated by the lungs

4) As the folds approach midline, air flowing through the glottal chink will increase in velocity. The glottal chink is simply an opening in the vocal folds

5) The increase in velocity of air flowing through the glottis will create a negative pressure along the medial edges of the vocal folds

[Bernoulli effect begins here]

6) This negative pressure causes the folds to be drawn together [B effect continues]

7) With the folds completely adducted, the subglottal pressure increases

8) When this pressure reaches a critical level, the folds will be blown apart and voicing will begin

Question 17

Voicing will continue until…

Answer 17

A. You run out of air, or
B. You finish talking, and then
C. Use what muscles to open the vocal folds?

posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

Question 18

A cycle of VF Vibration

Answer 18

Vf vibration is expressed in (Hz) or Frequency

Frequency or Hz is the number of cycles per second that the folds vibrate. This number will vary by gender, age, + disease

Typical values for vocal fold vibration:

Adult Male: 150-190 Hz
Adult Female: 180-220 Hz
Child: 225-450 Hz (Infant to about age 12)

Question 19

Types of Vocal Attacks (3)

Answer 19

Vocal attacks are defined as the way in which respiration and the laryngeal systems are coordinated

1) SIMULTANEOUS ATTACK

2) BREATHY VOCAL ATTACK

3) GLOTTAL ATTACK

Question 20

Vocal attacks are FUNCTIONAL not

Answer 20

pathological

However, when they are misused or used habitually, they may produce undesirable changes to the voice

Question 21

Simultaneous Attack

Answer 21

reflects the proper coordination between respiration and phonation

The air is released as the folds meet at midline

This is the way voicing should be produced as it creates the LEAST STRESS on the folds

The most efficient way to produce voice

Question 22

Breathy Vocal Attack

Answer 22

Significant air flow escapes through the vocal folds BEFORE they are adducted.

Breathiness can range from very mild to very pronounced or noticeable

A breathy vocal attack was a trademark for Marilyn Monroe

Question 23

Glottal Attack

Answer 23

Adduction of the vocal folds occurs before air flow begins

Here, the folds are brought abruptly together to produce sound

Perceptually, this creates a harsh, tense sound that is created by “slamming” the folds together

It is also referred to as a HARD GLOTTAL ATTACK

Question 24

Vibratory Cycle Characteristics (3 ways to view)

Answer 24

1) Changes in the glottal area

2) the mode of vocal fold vibration

3) the mechanics of vibration

Question 25

During voicing, what happens to the glottal area?

Answer 25

It changes in size/shape

Values given here are for voicing at conversational pitch + intensity, during one cycle of vibration:

1. Vocal Folds Open: 50%
2. Closing Phase: 37%
3. Vocal Folds Closed: 13%

These values change as you change pitch (frequency) or loudness (intensity)

Question 26

Mode of vocal fold vibration

Answer 26

Refers to a way of doing something. Here, mode refers to how the vocal folds open and close

Question 27

Mode of Vocal Fold Vibration - Abduction

Answer 27

The folds will open:

1. length wise: posterior to anterior
2. Medially: inferiorly to superiorly

Question 28

Mode of vocal fold vibration - adduction

Answer 28

The folds will close:

1. length wise: anterior to posterior
2. medially, superiorly to inferiorly this correct or supposed to be opposite

Question 29

Mechanics of Vocal Fold Vibration

Answer 29

The folds will vibrate mostly along their entire length

However, not everyone will adduct the folds completely during voicing

Question 30

To raise pitch

Answer 30

increase vocal fold length + increase vocal fold tension by contraction of CRICOTHYROID and THYROVOCALIS

Question 31

Pitch

Answer 31

the psychological correlate of frequency (vocal fold vibration measurement - hz/frequency)

Frequency, or pitch, is defined as the vibration of the vocal folds expressed as the number of cycles per second

As pitch increases, frequency increases
As pitch decreases, frequency also decreases

As pitch changes, appearance of the vocal folds also changes

Question 31

To lower pitch

Answer 31

Decrease vocal fold length + decrease vocal fold tension, due to contraction of THYROMUSCULARIS

Question 32

Pitch change is achieved by

Answer 32

changing the length, tension, and mass of the folds

These changes require muscular effort from cricothyroid and thyrovocalis

Question 33

How are extrinsic laryngeal muscles used in pitch?

Answer 33

They can be used to produce extremely high (suprahyoid) or extremely low (infrahyoid) pitches. This is common, in a majority of cases, for professionally trained singers only

Question 34

Cricothyroid and pitch

Answer 34

Cricothyroid will INCREASE pitch by STRETCHING the folds. It is the PRIMARY muscle used to regulate pitch ****

When cricothyroid contracts, the thyroid cartilage will tilt anteriorly

This action will:

increase tension
increase length
decrease the mass of the folds

= raised pitch

Question 35

Thyromuscularis and pitch

Answer 35

Thyyromuscularis, a glottal relaxer, will LOWER pitch by RELAXING the folds if the arytenoids + thyroid cartilage are allowed to move TOWARD each other

Question 36

Thyrovocalis

Answer 36

Tenser of folds

Role is minor

Makes fine-tuned adjustments in tension made by cricothyroid

Question 37

Pitch Raising means

Answer 37

Increased tension
Increased length
decreased mass

Question 38

Pitch lowering means

Answer 38

Decreased tension
Decreased length
Increased mass

Question 39

Intensity

Answer 39

Loudness is a psychological correlate of intensity

Question 40

Increased loudness is achieved by

Answer 40

1) Increasing subglottal pressure

2) Increasing medial compression of the folds

When medial compression increases, it takes more subglottal pressure to blow the folds apart

Question 41

As intensity increases

Answer 41

1) The vocal folds are tightly adducted

2) The vocal folds return to an adducted position more quickly

3) The vocal folds remain adducted for a longer period of time