Speech Anatomy & Physiology-Resonance system

Bony framework of VPN system

Skull

Facial skeleton

Frontal Bone

forms the forehead the roof of the nasal cavity.

styloid process of temporal bone

serves as an anchorage for muscles associated with the tongue and pharynx.

sphenoidal crest

forms the back wall of the nasal cavities

ethmoid bone

forms the upper part of medial wall (Septum), the roof, and upper side walls of the nasal cavities.

The superior and the middle concha from the lateral wall of the nasal cavities.

palatine bone

Forms the third posterior part of the floor of the nasal cavities.

maxillary bone

Forms the anterior two thirds of floor of the nasal cavities.

vomer bone

forms the base for the nasal septum

Inferior conchae

Located on the lower side walls of the nasal cavities

Nasal bones

form the bridge of the nose (part of the lateral wall)

Pharynx

the membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the esophagus.

nasopharynx

region of the pharynx at the back of the nose and above the soft palate

oropharynx

central portion of the pharynx between the roof of the mouth and the upper edge of the epiglottis

laryngopharynx

lower part of the pharynx, just below the oropharyngeal opening into the larynx and esophagus

velum

soft palate+uvula

palatoglossal arch and palatopharyngeal arch

palatal levator (levator veli palatini)

forms much of the bulk of the velum; when contracts, velum moves upward and backward

palatal tensor (tensor veli palatini)

opens eustachian tubes

Uvula muscle

to shorten and lift the soft palate

palatoglossus muscle

(muscular structure of anterior faucial pillar) - elevates back of tongue and depresses soft palate

superior constrictor muscle

closes upper part of the pharyngeal tube in the manner of a sphincter

middle pharyngeal constrictor

Narrows middle part of the pharyngeal tube in the manner of a sphincter

inferior pharyngeal constrictor

constrict the lower pharynx

Salpingopharyngeus muscle

elevates lateral pharyngeal wall (shorten the pharynx)

stylopharyngeus muscle

widen the pharynx

Palatopharyngeus muscle

The upper most fibers of the muscle draw the lateral pharyngeal wall inward to complement the action of the sup constrictor muscle while the lowermost fibers of the muscle pull upward the lateral pharyngeal wall and elevate (shorten) the pharynx

VPN airway resistance

opposition to the mass flow of air through structures of the VPN airway.

Factors that can change VP-nasal airway resistance

length of constriction

speed of airflow

VP port size

length of VP port

obstruction of nasal cavities

VP Sphincter Compression

compressive muscular pressure exerted to maintain the VP sphincter in a closed configuration

VPN acoustic impedance

opposition to passage of sound waves, being the product of the density of a substance and the velocity of sound in it.

Evaluation of velopharyngeal

Look in the mouth

X-ray or fluoroscopy

MRI

Pathologies that can impact on resonance

Cleft palate

Velopharyngeal insufficiency/incompetance

Englarged pharyngeal tonsils