Supralaryngeal Anatomy

Vocal Tract Articulation: a joining of structures loosely to allow movement For speech: modification of the airstream into the various sound of speech Airstream is either set into vibration at the larynx (voiced sound) or flows through open glottis unimpeded (voiceless) Modification occurs in vocal tract Throat, mouth, nose

Vocal Tract Sounds are formed in three ways: Exploding the airstream with bursts of pressure Constricting it to generate turbulence Resonating it to shape different qualities of tone

Articulators Articulators or vocal tract include: Tongue Lips Jaw Velopharynx Pharyngeal cavities

Development of Vocal Tract Right angle formed by the cranialvertebral junction (angle of upper throat where spine joins skull) Orientation of head & neck- vertical Base of cranium & vocal tract are bent sharply relative to axis Bend is unique to humans

Development of Vocal Tract What does the shape of vocal tract preserve? Horizontal orientation of the special sense organs (sight, smell, hearing) & feeding apparatus Straight continuity between the brain stem and the spinal cord Advantages: Completely close the nasal cavity while maintaining an open oropharyngeal tract Human infants cannot close nasal tract

Development of Vocal Tract Neonatal: Born with nonhuman oropharyngeal anatomy Epiglottis high in the pharynx (touches soft palate) Larynx is positioned high Changes that occur: Larynx moves inferiorly, away from tongue and soft palate Epiglottis moves inferiorly Advantages of early oropharyngeal anatomy Allows respiration and feeding to occur simultaneously

Vocal Tract Nasal Nasal Cavity Cavity Oral Cavity Soft Palate Vocal Folds Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Trachea Oral Cavity

Cavities Nasopharynx Oral Cavity Oropharynx Laryngopharynx

Cavities Major subdivisions of the vocal tract that participate in articulation: Pharyngeal Cavity (throat) Nasal Cavity (nose) Oral Cavity (mouth)

Oral Cavity Extends from the oral opening, or mouth, in front to the faucial pillars in back Oral opening involved in articulation Hard palate= hard roof or your mouth Rugae- prominent ridges running laterally (formation of bolus) Median raphe- divided hard palate in half Soft Palate or Velum= Soft portion running behind the hard palate Uvulus terminates soft palate

Oral Cavity Velum= movable muscle mass; separates oral & nasal cavities Attached in front to the palatine bone Anterior & Posterior Faucial Pillars either side of soft palate, mark posterior margin of the oral cavity Teeth and alveolar ridge of maxillae make up lateral margins Palatine tonsils Between the Ant. & Post. faucial pillars

Oral Cavity Rugae Hard Palate Median Raphe Uvula Velum Anterior Faucial Pillar Palatine Tonsils Posterior Faucial Pillar

Pharyngeal Cavity Pharynx (3 regions) 12 cm in length Extends from the vocal folds blow to the region behind the nasal cavities, above Tube is lined with muscle capable of constricting to facilitate deglutition (also closes velopharyngeal port) Velopharyngeal port- Opening between the oropharynx and nasopharynx

Pharyngeal Cavity 3 regions: Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Nasopharynx Portion of pharynx posterior to fauces, bounded above by velum Lower boundary is the hyoid bone Laryngopharynx Bounded anteriorly by the epiglottis Inferiorly by the esophagus Nasopharynx Space above soft palate Bounded posteriorly by the protuberance of occipital bone lateral wall contains the orifice of Eustachian tube

Pharyngeal Muscles 3 large, thin muscles wrap around the sides and back wall of the pharynx Inferior Constrictor Cricopharyngeus Middle Constrictor Stylopharyngeus Salpingopharyngeus Superior Constructor

Pharyngeal Muscles Functions: 1. Nonspeech- Swallowing- -Mash food -Major function to shoot food into esophagus 2. Speech- Narrowing pharynx, Velopharyngeal closure Superior Constrictor Middle Constrictor Inferior Constrictor

Constrictor Pharyngis Inferior * Level of laryngopharynx * Origin: Sides of cricoid cartilage anterior & lateral arch, fibers run in a semi-circle * Insertion: Dorsal pharyngeal midline raphe

Constrictor Pharyngis Medius * Level of oropharynx * Origin: Portion of hyoid bone, wraps around * Insertion: Midline raphe

Constrictor Pharyngis Superior * Level of nasopharynx *Origin: Very complex, lots of bones of skull, mandible, sides of tongue * Insertion: Midline raphe

Stylopharyngeus * Function: Will pull pharynx upward & outward, expands pharynx * Origin: Styloid process of temporal bone, runs down * Insertion: Fibers of the medial & superior constrictors

Salpingopharyngeus Origin: Eustachian tube (communication between pharynx & middle ear) Eustachian Tube Salpingopharyngeus Insertion: Pharyngeal walls Function: thought to be involved in VP closure

Salpingopharyngeus Salpingopharyngeus

Nasal Cavity Produced by paired maxillae, palatine and nasal bones Divided by the nasal septum Made up of vomer bone, perpendicular plate of ethmoid and cartilaginous septum Nasal cavities & turbinates are covered by mucous membrane

Nasal Cavity Air entering nasal cavity is warmed & humidified to protect lungs Fine nasal hairs prevent particulate matter from entering the lower respiratory passageway Epithelia propel pollutants toward nasopharynx where they are swallowed into the esophagus

Nasal Cavity Nares or nostrils mark anterior boundaries of the nasal cavities Nasal choanae are posterior portals connecting the nasopharynx & nasal cavities Floor of nasal cavity is the hard palate

Nasal Cavity Frontal Bone Ethmoid Septal Perpendicular Cartilage Plate Vomer Anterior Nasal Spine Perpendicular Plate of Palatine Bone Palatine Process of Maxilla

Reading/Assignments Seikel: Pgs. 300-303; 326-330 Dickson: Pgs. 202-207