the larynx and phonation

Question 1

biological function of larynx (3)

Answer 1

prevents unwanted objects from entering the lung
- allows us to expel unwanted objects by coughing
- assists in breathing

Question 2

larynx anatomy- main cartillages (4)

Answer 2

• cricoid
• thyroid
• 2x arytenoid
• epiglottis

Question 3

diagram 3- the larynx (a-g)

Answer 3

a= epiglottis
b= hyoid bone
c= thyroid cartillage
d= arytenoid cartillage
e= cricoid cartillage
f= trachea
g= cricothyroid muscle

Question 4

what is the cricoid cartilage?=

Answer 4

a ring-like cartillage thats attached to the TOP of the trachea

Question 5

what is the thyroid cartillage?>

Answer 5

shield-like structure made up of right and left plates that fuse together to form a notch known as the ‘thyroid prominence’ (aka A’s A)

Question 6

what is the arytenoid cartillage?

Answer 6

rests on top of the cricoid cartillage and attaches to the vocal folds

Question 7

what is the epiglottis?>

Answer 7

flap behind the thyroid that projects upwards behind the tongue
(>prevents food going down trachea when swallowing)

Question 8

diagram 4- glottiss (a-c)

Answer 8

a= vocal folds
b= thyroid cartilage
c= arytenoid cartilage (AC)

Question 9

diagram 5- the larynx top view (a-g)

Answer 9

a= muscular processes
b= thryoid notch
c= thyroid cartillage
d= cricoid cartillage
e= vocal ligaments
f= vocal processes
g= arytenoid cartillage

Question 10

what are the vocal processes?>

Answer 10

small protrusions on the arytenoids
- are also attachments for the vocal folds

Question 11

what are the vocal ligaments?

Answer 11

inner part of the vocal folds that connect between the thyroid notch and vocal processes

Question 12

what are the muscular processes?>

Answer 12

these stick out behind the arytenoids
these attach to some of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx

Question 13

what is phonation>

Answer 13

the process by which moving air is converted into (VF) vibrations
>(includes voicing sound in throat)

Question 14

what is modal phonation (/modal voicing)?>

Answer 14

• where the vocal cords are OPEN wide & close tightly, spending equal amounts of time open & closed
• the VF open from the bottom upwards

Question 15

theories of phonation>

Answer 15

• the neurochronaxic theory
• the myoelastic aerodynamix theory

Question 16

what is the neurochronaxic theory of phonation?>

Answer 16

• vocal fold vibrations are caused by deliberate contractions of the muscles

Question 17

what are the problems with the neurochronaxic theory of phonation

Answer 17

susbequent evidence show that vocal folds cant activley contract quickly enoguh for theory to be correct (deliberate contractions of muscles)

Question 18

what is the myoelastic aerodynamic theory of phonation

Answer 18

vocal fold vibrations are caused by the ‘elastic’ properties of the vocal folds & by aerodynamics

Question 19

what is the benoulli effect?>

Answer 19

as an airflow increases in speed, it decreases in pressure

Question 20

how is the pitch of voicing changed?

Answer 20

by changing length of vocal folds (this affects how quickly they can vibrate)

Question 21

longer vocal folds=

Answer 21

greater tension
vibrate more quickly (higher pitch)

Question 22

shorter vocal folds=

Answer 22

lesser tension
vibrate less qucikly (lower pitch)

Question 23

what is the cricothyroid muscle?

Answer 23

located between thyroid & cricoid cartillages which cana be contracted tto reduce distance between them (adjusts length of VF–>tilts down/stretches)

Question 24

phonation types=

Answer 24

refers to different states of the glottis during phonation (a range of glottal states that are in-between completely open (voiceless) and completely closed (glottal)

Question 25

what are the main phonation types? (Laver, 1980) (6)

Answer 25

• modal voice
• falsetto
• breathy voice
• whisper
• creaky voice
• harsh voice

Question 26

modal voice features>

Answer 26

• most common type of phonation
• regular vibration of the vocal folds
• is the type of voicing present in vowels and approximants

Question 27

falsetto voice features=

Answer 27

involcing extending the pitch of the voice far beyond the usual range
- vocal folds are stretched very thin
- higher frequency of vibrations than in modal voice

Question 28

breathy voice features=

Answer 28

vf vibrate but held further apart than modal
- more air escapes through VF, giving sound a breathier quality
- in some langs, breathy & non-breahty vowels are contrasted
- in eng used to index sultriness/sexiness

Question 29

whisper voice features=

Answer 29

• narrowing of the vf (like breathy but the vf dont vibrate)
• often used to speak ‘quietly’ or ‘secretively’

Question 30

creaky voice features>

Answer 30

• occurs when the fundamental frequency of a speakers’ voice is below a particular threshold (modal v can no longer continue> pitch too low)
• VF are compressed tightly & vibrate irregularly (20-50Hz)
• sometimes characterised as a clincial voice disorder
• used by eng of younger women (especially US)

Question 31

harsh voice features>

Answer 31

-very tense vocal folds with irregular vibration
>glottis is dampened (pressed down on) by ventricular folds slightly
-often characterised as a clinical voice disorder
- frequently used for musical effect

Question 32

true vs false vocal folds=

Answer 32

true vf= contain muscle
false vf= do not contain muscle