What is the main muscle responsible for breathing that contracts and moves downward during inhalation?
The diaphragm
What happens to the lungs during inhalation?
The lungs expand and fill with air
Why is respiration important for speech production?
Respiration provides the airflow and air pressure needed to produce speech sounds.
What are the two main phases of one respiratory cycle?
Inhalation and exhalation.
How do the muscle fibers of the external intercostals differ in orientation from the internal intercostals, and why does this matter?
External intercostals run obliquely downward and forward.
Internal intercostals run perpendicularly to them, pointing downward and backward.
Which structure contains the vocal folds and plays a major role in speech production?
The larynx
During exhalation for speech, does air move into or out of the lungs?
Air moves out of the lungs.
What type of breathing is typically used during speech: inhalation or controlled exhalation?
Controlled exhalation.
During normal, quiet expiration, the diaphragm does this, causing it to move upward and return to its resting dome shape.
Relaxes
Which muscles are recruited to assist the external intercostals during a deep, forced inhalation to help lift the very top of the ribcage?
The scalene muscles and the sternocleidomastoid
Air passes from the nasal cavity into this specific, superior-most region of the pharynx, which sits directly behind the nasal passages.
Nasopharynx
During inhalation, does the pressure inside the lungs increase or decrease compared to atmospheric pressure?
It decreases, allowing air to flow into the lungs.
Prevents chocking by ensuring that food and liquid do not enter the airway.

Epiglottis
What is the name for the normal, everyday amount of air you breathe in and out when you are resting?

Tidal volume
Which muscles located between the ribs help expand and contract the chest cavity during breathing?

The intercostal muscles.
Which part of the respiratory system is considered the primary site of external respiration?
The alveoli.
Originating from cervical levels C3, C4, and C5, this specific nerve keeps the diaphragm alive.
Phrenic Nerve
Which respiratory muscles are most important for speech breathing?
The diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominal muscles