SPA 3101 Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism

This collection of flashcards covers key concepts from the Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism, focusing on structure, function, and related terms crucial for understanding speech and hearing.

Articulators

Structures involved in shaping sounds in speech, including both mobile (active) and immobile (passive) components.

Mandible

The jawbone; the only movable bone in the human face.

Maxilla

Upper jaw that forms the roof of the mouth, floor, and walls of the nasal cavity.

Nasal Bone

Bone forming the bridge of the nose.

Palatine Bones

Bones that form the posterior hard palate and part of the nasal cavity.

Inferior Nasal Conchae

Scroll-like bones in the nasal cavity that help to warm and filter air.

Vomer

Midline bone that forms part of the nasal septum.

Zygomatic Bone

Bone forming the prominence of the cheeks.

Lacrimal Bone

Bone that forms part of the medial wall of the orbital cavities.

Ethmoid Bone

Bone that forms part of the cranial cavity and the nasal cavity.

Sphenoid Bone

Complex bone shaped like a butterfly, part of the cranial floor.

Frontal Bone

Bone that forms the forehead region of the skull.

Parietal Bone

Bones that form the upper sides and roof of the skull.

Occipital Bone

Bone forming the back and base of the skull.

Temporal Bone

Bones at the sides and base of the skull.

Buccal Cavity

The space between the teeth and cheeks, part of the oral cavity.

Oral Cavity

Area bounded by the teeth, hard palate, tongue, and faucial pillars.

Pharyngeal Cavity

The cavity behind the nose and mouth that connects them to the esophagus.

Orbicularis Oris

The muscle surrounding the lips, important for lip movements.

Buccinator

Muscle that compresses the cheeks, aiding in chewing.

Zygomatic Major

Muscle that elevates the corners of the mouth in smiling.

Zygomatic Minor

Muscle that elevates the upper lip.

Depressor Anguli Oris

Muscle that pulls the angle of the lips down, as in frowning.

Tongue

Muscular organ with five divisions, responsible for speech and taste.

Lingual Frenulum

Connective tissue that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

Superior Longitudinal Muscle

Intrinsic tongue muscle that elevates and retracts the tongue tip.

Inferior Longitudinal Muscle

Intrinsic tongue muscle that curls the tongue tip down.

Transverse Muscle

Intrinsic muscle that narrows and elongates the tongue.

Vertical Muscle

Intrinsic muscle that flattens the tongue.

Genioglossus Muscle

Extrinsic muscle that protrudes and depresses the tongue.

Hyoglossus Muscle

Extrinsic muscle that pulls down the sides of the tongue.

Styloglossus Muscle

Extrinsic muscle that pulls the tongue up and back.

Levator Veli Palatini Muscle

Muscle that elevates the soft palate during speech.

Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle

Muscle that opens the Eustachian tube.

Palatoglossus Muscle

Muscle that can lower the soft palate or raise the back of the tongue.

Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscles

Muscles that constrict the pharynx to aid swallowing.

Dentition

Teeth arrangement, important for speech and eating.

Source-Filter Theory

The theory that speech is produced by a sound source and shaped by the filter of the vocal tract.

Auditory Feedback

The sound produced by oneself, which helps in fine-tuning speech production.

Acoustic Energy

The energy of sound waves that is transmitted through the air.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that is responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals.

Tympanic Membrane

Also known as the eardrum; a membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear.

Ossicles

The three smallest bones in the body found in the middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes.

Auditory Canal

The canal that conducts sound waves to the eardrum.

Eustachian Tube

Tube that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, helping to equalize pressure.

Organ of Corti

Sensory structure in the cochlea containing hair cells that detect sound.

Basilar Membrane

Membrane in the cochlea that responds to sound vibrations and contributes to hearing.

Hair Cells

Sensory cells in the cochlea that transduce sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Auditory Nerve (CN VIII)

Nerve that transmits sound information from the cochlea to the brain.

Inferior Colliculus

A critical structure in the brainstem involved in auditory processing.

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

Thalamic relay station for auditory information before it reaches the cortex.

Tonotopic Organization

Organization of auditory sensory neurons according to the frequency of sounds.

Proprioceptive Feedback

Information about the body's position and movement, important for speech production.

Pharynx

The muscular tube that connects the nasal cavity to the larynx and esophagus.

Eardrum

Another name for the tympanic membrane, which vibrates in response to sound.

Cochlear Nucleus

The first brainstem nucleus where auditory information is processed.

Superior Olivary Complex

Brainstem structure involved in sound localization.

Acoustic Startle Response

An automatic reaction to loud sounds, often involving movements of the head and body.

Pharyngeal Aponeurosis

A layer of connective tissue in the pharyngeal wall.

Cochlear Aqueduct

Connects the cochlear duct with the brain, providing a pathway for fluids.

Cochlear Implants

Medical devices implanted in the cochlea to aid hearing.

Acoustic Reflex

Involuntary muscle contractions in the middle ear in response to loud sounds.

Hearing Loss Types

Include conductive, sensorineural, and mixed types based on origin and mechanism.

Cochlear Duct

The fluid-filled cavity inside the cochlea that houses the organ of hearing.

Scala Media

The middle chamber of the cochlea, containing the endolymph and organ of Corti.

Pinna

The visible part of the ear that collects sound waves.

Hearing Anatomy

Study of the structures and functions that contribute to hearing.

External Ear

Comprises the pinna and the external auditory canal.

Middle Ear

Contains the ossicles and connects to the Eustachian tube.

Inner Ear

Houses the cochlea and vestibular system, responsible for hearing and balance.

Auditory Cortex

Area of the brain that processes auditory information.

Auricle

Another term for the external ear or pinna.

Acoustic Information

Refers to the sound characteristics perceived by the auditory system.

Mechanical Energy

Energy from sound waves that is converted during hearing.

Electrochemical Energy

Energy produced by the sensory cells after transduction of mechanical signals.

Sound Localization

The ability to determine the origin of a sound in space.

Acoustic Analysis

The examination of sound properties for features such as frequency and amplitude.

Vocal Tract

The cavity where sound is modified by the vocal organs.

Speech Production

The process involving air flow and articulators to create speech.

Perilymph

Fluid that surrounds the membranous labyrinth in the inner ear.

Temporal Bone

Bone that contains structures of the middle and inner ear.

Interaural Level Difference (ILD)

The difference in sound intensity reaching each ear used for localization.

Interaural Time Difference (ITD)

The difference in time for sound to reach both ears, aiding in localization.

Phonetics

The study of the sounds of human speech.

Sound Waves

Vibrations that travel through the air and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear.

Acoustic Shadow

The area of reduced sound intensity due to obstruction by the head.

Auditory Processing

The interpretation of sound signals by the central nervous system.

Speech Perception

The process by which the brain decodes and understands spoken language.

Stapes

The smallest bone in the body, part of the middle ear, which helps to transmit sound.

Incus

Also known as the anvil; bone in the middle ear that helps transmit sound.

Malleus

Also known as the hammer; the largest ossicle that connects to the eardrum.

Cochlear Amplifier

The function of outer hair cells that enhance the sensitivity of hearing.

Auditory Scene Analysis

The process of segregating different sound sources in the environment.

Cochlear Mechanics

Study of the mechanical processes in the cochlea that lead to hearing.

Hair Cell Damage

Results in hearing loss as hair cells do not regenerate.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons, where signals are transmitted.

Frequency Modulation

Variation in the frequency of a sound wave, important in speech intonation.

Voice Quality

Characteristics of a person’s voice that distinguish them from others.

Hearing Aids

Devices that amplify sound for individuals with hearing loss.

Acoustic Reflex Arc

Neural pathway that governs the reflexive response to loud sounds.