Physiology of Speech

Tongue

The major articulator in phonation. It is active and composed of muscle.

Teeth

Its role in phonation is to place articulation for the tongue and the lips.

Lips

Its purpose is to open and close accordingly tocreate speech.

Bilabial Sounds

Sound produced by the lips.

Vocal Cords / Folds

They vibrate together in various ways to determine the pitch of sounds.

Glottis

The space between the vocal cords.

Glottis

It allows more air/oxygen into the lungs. This is part of the body's "Automatic Survival Mechanism".

Stress

______ presented as crying activates the Autonomic Nervous System.

Lungs

The driving energy force for the production of speech.

Cognitive Level

This is where speech begins in the brain. The speaker generates the intention, idea, and linguistic plan for speech.

Neural Control

Organizes the sequence of respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation before execution.

Respiration

It provides the airflow and pressure needed for sound.

Larynx

Sound is generated at the _______ and converts airflow into sound waves.

Glottis

Air passes through the _______ (space between the vocal cords).

Bernoulli Effect

The vocal cords vibrate due to air pressure called?

Pitch

Adjusted by tension of the vocal cords (cricothyroid & thyroarytenoid muscles).

Loudness

Regulated by subglottal air pressure and vocal cord strength.

Resonance

It amplifies and modifies the sound produced in the larynx.

Articulation

It modifies the raw sound into recognizable speech.

Constrict

The articulators __________ or shape airflow to produce consonants and vowels.

Acoustic Signal

The physiological processes result in an ________ ______ transmitted through the air.

Broca’s Area

For motor planning of speech.

Wernicke's Area

For language comprehension.

Motor Cortex

Sends signals to muscles of respiration, phonation, articulation.

Cerebellum - Basal Ganglia

For coordination and timing (2).

Broca’s Aphasia

Non-fluent, effortful speech but preserved comprehension.

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Fluent but nonsensical speech, poor comprehension.

Apraxia of Speech

A disorder described as difficulty in planning and sequencing articulatory movements,

Dysarthria

Slurred or weak articulation.