Anatomy of speech production

respiration

providing the flow of air (basic source of energy)

phonation

transforming flow of air from the lungs into audible sounds, voiced or unvoiced (source of vibration)

articulation

modulating this raw material into the individual speech sounds that constitute human language (the filter)

respiration

Primary function is to obtain oxygen (O2) for use by cells & eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2) waste produced by cells

pulmonary system

how air gets into and out of the lungs via gas exchange

upper respiratory system parts

oral cavity

nasal cavity

pharynx (throat)

lower respiratory system parts

larynx

bronchial system

upper respiratory system function

• In normal (automatic) breathing, air comes in through nasal passages

• Nasal cavity warms, filters and moistens the air going into the lungs

pharyx

passageway for food and air

superior to larynx

inferior to oral cavity

lower respiratory system function

• Separates upper respiratory system from lower respiratory system

• Houses the vocal folds

lower respiratory system

inferior to the pharynx

superior to trachea

bronchial system

trachea

bronchi

bronchioles

alveoli

trachea

• Lined with epithelium and cilia (hair cells)

• Instigates cough reflex

• Connects to bronchi

trachea location

• Inferior to the larynx

• Superior to the bronchi

• Anterior to the esophagus

bronchi

receives air from trachea

send air back up trachea

mainstream bronchi

two tubes that split from the trachea

secondary bronchi

segments that split from the mainstream bronchi

tertiary bronchi

segments that split from the secondary bronchi

bronchioles function

help regulate airflow

bronchioles

• Branches of the bronchi

• Connects to Alveoli

alveoli

bumps on the end of bronchioles

surrounded by capillaries

place of gas exchange

diffusion

the gases are exchanged via a concentration gradient that exists between the alveoli and the capillaries

concentration gradient

Concentration of O2 in the alveoli must be at a higher level than in the blood; concentration of CO2 in the alveoli must be at a lower level than in the blood

chest wall system parts

thorax

diaphragm

abdomen

thorax function

• Cavity that holds the lungs

• Ribcage

• Has some musculature – not essential for respiration

diaphragm function

Muscle that moves up and down to pump air in and out of the lungs

diaphragm location

• At the base of the thoracic cavity, inferior to the lungs

• Superior to the abdominal cavity

external intercostal muscles

elevate rib cage

increase volume of lungs

inhale

internal intercostal muscles

lower rib cage

decrease volume of lungs

exhale

pulmonary pleura

Membrane that lines the walls of the thorax and wraps around the outside of the lungs

visceral pleura

covers external surface of lungs

parietal pleura

covers internal surface of thorax

pleural cavity/space

space between visceral and parietal pleura contains pleural fluid

pulmonary pleura

pleural space and pleural fluid have negative pressure (vacuum) that allows lungs and thorax as a single unit

abdomen function

• moves with respiration and movement of the diaphragm

• some musculature — not essential for respiration

abdomen location

inferior to the thorax and diaphragm

pressure relationships

as force increases, pressure increases

as area increases, pressure decreases

boyle’s law

As the volume of a container increases, the air pressure within the container decreases

Resting Expiratory Level (REL)

state of equilibrium aka end-expiratory level (EEL)

lung volumes

objectively how much can the lung and different parts of the lung hold (discrete)

lung capacity

combinations of lung volumes that reflect physiological limits

life breathing depends of

• Body’s metabolism

• Body temperature

• Fluid and acid-base balance

speech breathing

air being pushed through the vocal folds in a controlled stream in order to cause them to vibrate

life breathing location of air intake

nose

speech breathing location of air intake

mouth

ratio — life breathing

40% inhalation, 60% exhalation

ratio — speech breathing

10% inhalation, 90% exhalation