Anatomy for Speech-Language Pathology Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical, neurological, laryngeal, respiratory, and auditory concepts from the Speech-Language Pathologist Anatomy Coloring Book.

Organ of Corti

The receptor organ for hearing located within the cochlea, containing hair cells (cilia) that rest between the perilymph and endolymph channels.

Basal Ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei located deep within the cerebral hemispheres that play a central role in motor control and movement coordination.

Circle of Willis

A ring-like arterial vascular anastomosis at the base of the brain that connects the internal carotid and vertebrobasilar circulation systems.

Ventricular System

A set of interconnected fluid-filled cavities within the brain comprising the lateral ventricles, third ventricle, fourth ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, and interventricular foramen.

Upper Esophageal Sphincter

A muscular valve located at the entrance to the esophagus that relaxes during swallowing to allow a food bolus to pass from the pharynx into the esophagus.

Neuron Structure

A nerve cell composed of a soma (cell body), nucleus, receiving dendrites, conducting axon covered in a myelin sheath, and terminal ending at a synapse.

Meninges

The three protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Ear Canal

The tubular canal of the outer ear extending from the pinna to the ear drum (tympanic membrane).

Anterior Neck Musculature

Structures of the anterior neck including suprahyoid muscles (digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid) and infrahyoid muscles (omohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid) positioned relative to the hyoid bone.

Vallecula

A depression or cavity located behind the root of the tongue and anterior to the epiglottis.

Respiratory System

The system responsible for breathing, including the nasal cavity, oral cavity, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, alveoli, and diaphragm.

Thyrohyoid Membrane

A broad, fibro-elastic membrane connecting the superior border of the thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone.

Medial Sagittal Brain Structure

The medial view of the brain detailing structures such as the corpus callosum (genu, body, splenium), cingulate gyrus, fornix, precuneus, cuneus, diencephalon, and brainstem.

True Vocal Folds vs. False Vocal Folds

In a coronal cross-section of the larynx, false vocal folds (ventricular folds) lie superiorly, while true vocal folds sit below them above the cricoid cartilage and trachea.

Malleus

The hammer-shaped outermost middle ear ossicle attached directly to the tympanic membrane.

Incus

The anvil-shaped middle auditory ossicle connecting the malleus to the stapes.

Stapes

The stirrup-shaped innermost auditory ossicle that articulates with the oval window of the inner ear.

Thalamus

A large mass of subcortical gray matter that serves as the principal relay center for sensory impulses sent to the cerebral cortex.

Hippocampus

A structure located in the temporal lobe essential for memory formation, spatial navigation, and learning.

Amygdala

An almond-shaped nucleus in the limbic system involved in processing emotional memory, aggression, and fear.

Cerebellum

The brain region located posterior to the brainstem responsible for fine motor control, balance, and motor coordination.

Cerebral Aqueduct

A narrow canal within the midbrain connecting the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle.

Dura Mater

The thick, tough outermost layer of the meninges composed of a periosteal layer and an inner meningeal layer.

Myelin Sheath

A protective fatty coating wrapped around nerve cell axons that increases the speed of electrical signal propagation.

Synapse

The microscopic junction where neurotransmitters are released from an axon terminal to pass electrical or chemical signals to a post-synaptic cell.

Hard Palate

The anterior, bony portion of the roof of the mouth separating the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.

Soft Palate

The flexible muscular structure posterior to the hard palate that elevates to seal off the nasal cavity during speech and swallowing.

Eustachian Tube

A muscular tube connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx that equalizes air pressure across the eardrum.

Epiglottis

A leaf-shaped cartilaginous structure that folds backward during swallowing to cover the laryngeal entrance.

Arachnoid Granulation

Projections of the arachnoid membrane through the dura mater into the superior sagittal sinus that drain cerebrospinal fluid.