Fundamentals of Phonetics: A Practical Guide for Students Sixth Edition Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms related to the anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism from the lecture notes.

Respiratory System

The system responsible for breathing; primary function to sustain life and secondary function to produce speech; includes lungs, trachea, rib cage, thorax, abdomen, diaphragm, and related muscles.

Inhalation

The process of getting air into the lungs; diaphragm lowers, external intercostals raise the sternum and rib cage, thoracic cavity expands, creating negative pressure that draws air in.

Exhalation

The process of expelling air from the lungs; elastic recoil and muscle relaxation (internal intercostals) push air out of the lungs.

Diaphragm

.primary muscle of inhalation; contracts to lower and enlarge the thoracic cavity to draw air in.

External Intercostal Muscles

Muscles that raise the rib cage during inhalation to expand the thoracic cavity.

Internal Intercostal Muscles

Muscles that lower the rib cage during exhalation to help expel air.

Thoracic Cavity

The chest cavity that expands during inhalation to create negative pressure for airflow.

Negative Pressure

Lower pressure in the lungs relative to atmospheric pressure, caused by thoracic expansion, which draws air into the lungs.

Vocal Tract

Structures above the larynx (pharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavity) that shape sound; includes major articulators.

Laryngeal System

System between the trachea and hyoid bone responsible for phonation and protection of the airway.

Larynx

Box of cartilage and muscles containing the vocal folds; primary organ for phonation and airway protection.

Vocal Folds (Vocal Cords)

Vibrating folds within the larynx that produce voiced sound when set into motion by air.

Glottis

The opening between the vocal folds through which air passes during phonation.

Abduction

Movement of the vocal folds apart (opening of the glottis) to allow air to pass.

Adduction

Movement of the vocal folds together (closing of the glottis) to enable phonation.

Bernoulli Principle

Fast airflow through the glottis reduces air pressure, drawing the vocal folds together and sustaining vibration.

Phonation

Vibration of the vocal folds that produces voiced sound.

Fundamental Frequency

A measure of the rate of vocal fold vibration; perceived as pitch.

Subglottal Pressure

Air pressure beneath the vocal folds that drives their opening during phonation.

Hyoid Bone

U-shaped bone in the neck that anchors the larynx and tongue muscles.

Uvula

Small fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate; part of the velopharyngeal mechanism.

Voiced vs Voiceless

Voiced sounds involve vocal fold vibration; voiceless sounds occur without vocal fold vibration.

Thyroid Cartilage

Main shield-like cartilage of the larynx that protects the vocal folds.

Cricoid Cartilage

Cylindrical cartilage below the thyroid, forming the base of the laryngeal structure.

Arytenoid Cartilages

Pyramidal cartilages that control vocal fold movement (abduction/adduction).

Supralaryngeal System

Structures above the larynx (pharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavity) that shape speech sounds.

Pharynx

The passage behind the nasal and oral cavities; composed of nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Oral Cavity

Mouth cavity; primary location for articulation, especially for many consonants and vowels.

Nasal Cavity

Nasal passage that contributes to nasal sounds and resonance in speech.

Articulators

Movable speech organs (lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate, velum, tongue, glottis) that shape sound.

Lips (Labial sounds)

Sounds produced with lip involvement (e.g., /b/, /p/).

Teeth (Labiodental, Dental)

Labiodental sounds use lips and teeth (e.g., /f/, /v/); dental sounds involve the teeth.

Alveolar Ridge (Alveolar sounds)

Sounds produced with the tongue against the alveolar ridge (e.g., /t/, /d/, /s/).

Hard Palate (Palatal sounds)

Palatal sounds produced with the body of the tongue against the hard palate.

Velum (Soft Palate) (Velar sounds)

Soft palate; velar sounds produced with the tongue contacting the soft palate (e.g., /k/, /g/).

Glottis (Glottal sounds)

Space between vocal folds; glottal sounds involve constriction at the glottis.

Tongue (Apex, Blade, Front, Back, Root)

Primary articulator; divisions of the tongue used to describe articulatory places and sounds.

Supralaryngeal System Transmission

The system above the larynx that produces diverse speech sounds through articulatory shaping.

Source-Filter Theory

Theory that the larynx provides a source of sound; the vocal tract filters this source to produce distinct phonemes.

Resonance

Vibratory properties and natural frequencies of a vibrating body (e.g., the vocal tract) that influence sound quality.