CSD Midterm Laryngeal and Respiratory Anatomy Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering laryngeal anatomy, physiology, respiratory mechanics, and articulatory structures based on the Midterm Study Guide.

Glottis

The variable space between the true vocal folds.

Supraglottis

The region of the laryngeal space located above the glottis.

Subglottis

The region of the laryngeal space located below the glottis.

Epiglottis

A leaf-like structure composed of elastic cartilage tissue that serves the role of airway protection during swallowing.

Cricothyroid joint

The joint that allows the thyroid cartilage to tilt, which lengthens the vocal folds to achieve a higher pitch.

Cricoarytenoid joint

The joint that primarily controls the adduction and abduction of the vocal folds through rocking and gliding motions.

Posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA)

The single intrinsic laryngeal muscle responsible for the abduction of the true vocal folds.

Lateral cricoarytenoid and Interarytenoids

The two primary muscles responsible for the adduction of the vocal folds.

Cricothyroid muscle

The intrinsic muscle that increases longitudinal tension of the vocal folds for pitch control.

Thyroarytenoid muscle

A muscle pair located inside the vocal folds used to fine tune tension.

Whisper

A state of phonation characterized by noise rather than voicing, produced by a specific glottal configuration often involving a posterior gap.

vocal fry

A vocal register characterized by slack vocal folds and low frequency vibration.

Falsetto

A vocal register characterized by thin, elongated vocal folds and vibration occurring primarily at the edges.

Quiet respiratory rate

The typical rate for healthy adults is approximately $12$ to $18$ breaths per minute.

Newborn respiratory rate

A rate significantly higher than adults, typically occupying the range of $40$ to $70$ breaths per minute.

Subglottal pressure effect

Very low levels of this pressure lead to decreased speech intensity and can cause a loss of sustained phonation.

Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)

The cranial nerve responsible for tongue movement.

Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)

The cranial nerve responsible for facial expression and lip movement.

Superior Laryngeal Nerve (SLN)

The branch of the Vagus nerve ($CN X$) that specifically innervates the cricothyroid muscle.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN)

The branch of the Vagus nerve ($CN X$) that innervates most intrinsic laryngeal muscles except for the cricothyroid.

Coronal plane

The anatomical plane that divides the body into front and back portions.

Zygomatic bone

The bone that forms the cheekbones.

Occipital bone

The bone that forms the posterior skull and the cranial base.

Palatine bones

The bones that form the posterior quarter of the hard palate.

Orbicularis oris

The muscle that puckers and seals the lips.

Buccinator

The muscle that compresses the cheek against the teeth.

Cuspids

Also known as canines, these teeth are specialized for tearing and have two points.

Molars

The type of teeth specialized for grinding.

Waveform intensity cue

Visual signals on a waveform where greater amplitude indicates greater intensity.

Five layers of the vocal folds

The layers listed from superficial to deep: Epithelium, Superficial Lamina Propria, Intermediate Lamina Propria, Deep Lamina Propria, and Thyroarytenoid muscle.

Pliable cover

The combination of the Epithelium and the Superficial Lamina Propria in the vocal folds.

onset

The clinical term for the start of phonation.

offset

The clinical term for abduction at the end of voicing.

Airway protection

The primary survival priority of the larynx, ranked above breathing control and voicing.

Vertebral artery

The vessel that travels through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae.

Boyle's Law

A physical law stating that volume and pressure are inversely proportional: $P \times V = k$.

Bernoulli effect

The principle that as air velocity increases through the glottis, air pressure decreases, creating a suction that helps close the vocal folds during the glottal cycle.

Diaphragm

The primary muscle of inspiration that contracts and descends during quiet inspiration and relaxes during expiration, causing lung volume to decrease.

Velum

An articulator that is usually in an elevated position during speech but is depressed (lowered) for nasal sounds.

Nasal sounds

The three sounds produced with a lowered velum: $m$, $n$, and $\eta$.