Good Vibrations
Anatomy
Welcome to Vagus
MUSCLES!
Larynx Physiology
Bonus Ducks!!
100
What are the 6+1 vocal components?
Resonance, Rate, Respiration, Phonation, Pitch, Loudness, and Articulatory Precision.
100
Name the four anatomical systems in voice production.
Bonus!: Name one function/characteristic of each +50.
(From bottom - up)
4. Resonatory - size and shape of vocal tract
3. Articulation - shapes sounds (articulators)
2. Phonation - act of voicing
1. Respiratory - inhalation/exhalation
100
T/F The 3 main branches of the Vagus (CNX) nerve are pharyngeal branch, superior laryngeal branch, and recurrent laryngeal branch.
True!
100
Which pair of muscles abduct the vfs?
Bonus!: Where are they located (origin and insertion)?
Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles (PCA).
Originates from the posterior cricoid cartilage to the muscular process of arytenoids.
100
Fill-in-the-blank:
These extrinsic larynx muscles - suprahyoid and infrahyoid, ______ and ______ the larynx.
elevates; lowers/depresses
100
T/F Theoretical anatomy in textbooks are symmetrically the same as the anatomy of every patient.
FALSE!
Textbook images just illustrate what anatomical structures might look like. Not every person's anatomy is created equally or symmetrically!
200
What are the cycles per second/frequency of a female's vfs? A male's vfs?
Female - 220-225 cps/Hz
Male - 120-125 cps/Hz
200
T/F The false vfs are located laterally from the true vfs.
False. They are located superior and slightly lateral.
200
Which branch of the Vagus nerve's superior laryngeal branch is more superior?
The internal branch of the superior laryngeal branch.
200
What muscle is the primary adductor of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
Lateral Cricoarytenoid (LCA).
200
In terms of voice production, what would be a "yellow flag" in the medical history section of a case history form?
Heart or thyroid surgery.
200
Fill-in-the-blank:
The Adam's apple is a common name for the ____________.
Thyroid prominence.
300
T/F You can change your resonance by raising or lowering the velopharyngeal port.
TRUE!
300
T/F The arytenoids are an anterior attachment for the vfs.
False. They are a posterior attachment (anterior commissure).
300
Which side of the Vagus nerve (right or left) is longer and more vulnerable to injury?
To the left to the left!
300
Fill-in-the-blank:
The extrinsic muscles of the larynx are responsible for ______ movements and the intrinsic muscles provide _______ adjustments.
Bonus +100 if you get it right!: Name the movements extrinsic muscles provide (+50). Name the capabilities intrinsic muscle movement allows (+50).
gross; delicate
Extrinsic - elevates and lowers larynx position.
Intrinsic - larynx phonation and closure capabilities (i.e.: air way protection (AP) and phonation).
300
Fill-in-the-blank:
During cricothyroid contraction, the thyroid cartilage rocks forward ________ vfs then relaxes and ______ vfs.
lengthens; shortens
Rockabye cricoid rockabye Dr. King loves you!
300
How many cells thick is the epithelial lining of the outer layer of the vfs?
8 cells thick!
(From inner to outer: stiff cotton threads, rubber band, Jell-O).
400
T/F Hypoadductive vfs (inadequate adduction) can present with loud vocal quality.
False! They will present with a breathy vocal quality!
400
What is the space immediately superior to the true vfs but inferior to the false vfs?
a. subglottic c. supraglottic
b. glottis d. ventricle
D! Ventricle
To help you, the order shown on the picture below from top to bottom is: c, d, b, a.
400
What nerve innervates all intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid muscle?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve branch (the loopy one).
400
What are the extrinsic larynx muscles?
Bonus!: What is their location (origin and insertion)?
Suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles.
Suprahyoid
400
T/F The supraglottic resonatory system in humans is not capable of being altered in size, shape, and tautness. If false, explain your answer.
(This fits more with the "good vibes" category but I just vibed with the rows I had).
False!
The VP port can be open or close off the naso- and oropharynx, altering the shape of the vocal tract and its resonating qualities.
400
What is the average length of the vfs in adult males? Adult females? How does difference impact voice production?
Average vf length in males is 17-20 mm long.
Average vf length in females is 12-17 mm long.
VF length affects the pitch of the person.
500
How can a thin tone produced at the level of the vfs be resonated to a richer louder level?
Resonance occurs when air is excited by a vibrating structure in an air-filled chamber, causing the chamber walls to vibrate as well.
So by virtue of the supraglottic resonating chambers, the quality of the tone is altered - there's now more space for the air to vibe!
500
What muscles do you use to inhale (there are 2 of importance)? What muscles are used to exhale (there are 3)?
Bonus!: What movements do these muscles make?
(This should go in muscles but I couldn't muscle the energy to create another category column!)
Inspiration muscles: The diaphragm - primary muscle of inspiration that expands the thoracic cavity. External intercostals - raises ribs for inspiration.
Expiration muscles: External and internal obliques - depress lower ribs and compress abdomen. Internal intercostals - lower ribs.
500
What issue would occur (think 6+1 model) if the pharyngeal branch of the Vagus nerve is bilaterally damaged?
Resonance issues! It innervated the pharynx (not the intrinsic muscles that move the vfs), so the "vocal tract" will be impacted.
500
Which muscles (group name) increases medial compression of the vocal folds?
Bonus!: Can you name both of the true vf muscles? How about the location? You can add an extra 100 points for answering BOTH bonus questions correctly!
Interarytenoids.
Transverse arytenoid and oblique arytenoid.
Originates and inserts into the lateral and posterior arytenoids (arytenoid-arytenoid).
500
Fill-in-the-blanks:
Cartilage movement resulting in contraction of intrinsic muscles causes ____, _____, and ______ of vfs characteristics to be altered (think quantitatively).
Bonus!: Small deviations in this balance result in what 3 noticeable changes?
mass, length, tension
Pitch, loudness, and quality.
500
Phonetically transcribe: larynx.
lærɪŋks
lɛrɪŋks
Just hope this question isn't a jinx!
600
Explain the phonation process (6-7 steps).
1. You inhale - vfs open and air enters lungs.
2. The vfs close during exhalation and air cannot leave the lungs = increased medial compression.
3. Pressure builds under the vfs until it cannot be contained - overcoming the increased medial compression.
4. Air bursts out between the vfs forcing them apart.
5. Air goes up the vocal tract. Pressure changes cause the vfs to "buzz" = phonation.
6. Pressure decreases below the vfs and the rapidly escaping airflow from in between the vocal folds creates a vacuum effect (Bernoulli effect).
7. The vacuum effect combined with vf elasticity causes them to snap back to their original closed (adducted) position.
600
Name the components of the Resonatory system.
The acoustic features:
Nasal cavity
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
600
Which superior laryngeal nerve branch innervates only the cricothyroid? Which one innervates the interior of the larynx?
Bonus!: For the second nerve you named what problem could occur if there were bilateral lesions?
The external superior laryngeal nerve branch.
The internal superior laryngeal nerve branch.
There would be swallowing problems.
600
Name the intrinsic muscles responsible for adducting (There are 4)?
Challenge +200 points: Locations of at least 3 (origin and insertion)?
Lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA), thyroarytenoids, cricothyroid, and interarytenoids (transverse and oblique).
LCA (the primary adductor!) - lateral margins of the cricoid cartilage into the lateral sides of arytenoids.
Thyroarytenoids (vf muscles!): anteriorly to the thyroid commissure and inserts into the vocal process of the arytenoids.
Cricothyroid: anterolateral cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage above.
Interarytenoids (Winner of the medial compression award!): from the thyroid cartilage to the vocal process of the arytenoids.
600
Fill-in-the-blank:
The thyroarytenoid muscles (a.k.a. true vf muscles) are the ________ and ________. They function by shortening the vfs and increasing ______, and adducting the vfs reducing vf _______.
(Hint: the last two are the same answer)
thyrovocalis (TV); thyromuscularis.
Tension.
600
What is Dr. King's favorite larynx joint?
Bonus for your bonus!: What does this joint allow the arytenoids to do?
The Cricothyroid!
This wonderful joint allows the arytenoids to rock and slide!
(ChatGPT wasn't cooperating so I had to get creative)
