Bones
Twelve in all, this group of bones has 7 "true," 3 "false," and two "floating"
Ribs
With two sets (external and internal) these muscles allow the rubs to elevate and depress when breathing
Intercostal Muscles
Often called the voice box, it houses the vocal folds and is involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration.
Larynx
One of two components that make up your nervous systems. It is comprised of the brain, spinal cord and retina. It receives information, translates it, and uses it to perform all activities within the body.
Central Nervous System
A small, fleshy projection hanging at the back of the soft palate. It helps with speech and swallowing, and contributes to the gag reflex.
Uvula
These individual segments of the spine both protect parts of our nervous system and allow us to bend and move.
A broad, fan-shaped muscle on the side of the head. It assists in closing the jaw during chewing.
Temporalis
Also called vocal cords, these are two bands of muscle tissue within the larynx that vibrate to produce sound during speech or singing.
Vocal Folds
Controls automatic bodily functions like heartbeat, breathing and digestion.
Contains two more subdivisions: Sympathetic (reaction to stressors to prepare the body for Trauma Response) and Parasympathetic (calms the body after Trauma Response.).
Autonomic Nervous System
Also called the soft palate, it's the muscular part of the palate that can move to close off the nasal passages during swallowing and some speech sounds.
Velum
The lower jawbone. It’s the largest and strongest bone of the face and the only movable bone of the skull.
Mandible
A large facial muscle located at the jaw. It's one of the primary muscles involved in chewing (mastication).
Masseter
Also known as the windpipe, it is a tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi, allowing air to pass to and from the lungs.
Trachea
This part of your Autonomic Nervous System might constrict your pupils, slow digestion and increase your heartbeat to prepare you for a fight
Sympathetic Nervous System
The "continental shelf of your mouth," this area behind your teeth allow you to make voiced and unvoiced plosives, trills, and fricatives.
Alveolar Ridge
A U-shaped bone in the neck that does not articulate with any other bone. It supports the tongue and is an attachment site for muscles involved in swallowing and speech.
Hyoid
This dome shaped muscle is not something you can actually "breathe" into but actually aids the lungs in respiration by raising during exhale and lowering during inhale.
Diaphragm
A leaf-shaped flap of cartilage located behind the tongue, at the top of the larynx. It prevents food and liquids from entering the trachea during swallowing.
Epiglottis
One of two components of the Nervous System. comprised of nerves and ganglia that reach out into our limbs and all over the body to carry messages and perform various bodily functions.
Peripheral Nervous System
Made up of three sections: the Naso-, Oro-, and Laryngeo- this is where sound resonates.
Pharynx
This stationary bone in the skull, aids in chewing and sound making
Maxilla
This round muscle encases the eyes and allows us to blink.
Orbicularis Oculi
these two tiny bits of cartilage control vocal cord movement, allowing them to adduct (close) for speech and sound production and abduct (open) for breathing.
Arytenoid
A sub-division of the Peripheral Nervous System, this controls voluntary muscular movements like walking, running, speaking, etc.
It also transmits sensory information from the skin, joints, and muscles to the brain.
Somatic Nervous System
Refers to the top (or back) surface of the tongue. It's involved in producing many speech sounds.
Dorsum