Physiology of Phonation – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terms, acoustic measures, vocal registers, clinical conditions and assessment concepts central to the physiology of phonation.

Protective function (larynx)

Primary, life-saving role of the larynx that prevents foreign material from entering the lungs.

Aspiration

Entry of food or liquid into the airway below the vocal folds.

Coughing

Forceful expiratory reflex that clears material from the top of the airway.

Throat clearing

Abrupt adduction of the vocal folds to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.

Abdominal fixation

Trapping of air in the thorax to stabilize the torso for heavy lifting or childbirth.

Glottis

The space between the vocal folds; opens and closes during phonation.

Subglottal space

Area below the vocal folds within the larynx.

Supraglottal space

Area above the vocal folds within the larynx.

Frequency

Number of vibratory cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Pitch

Psychological (perceptual) correlate of frequency.

Elasticity

Tendency of vocal-fold tissue to return to its original shape after being displaced.

Stiffness

Internal resistance of vocal-fold tissue to deformation.

Inertia

Property that keeps a moving mass (e.g., vocal fold) in motion until another force acts on it.

Periodic wave

Waveform that repeats in a predictable pattern over time.

Cycle

One complete opening-closing movement of the vocal folds.

Period

Time required to complete one vibratory cycle.

Fundamental frequency (F0)

Lowest, primary frequency of vocal-fold vibration; perceived as overall pitch.

Mass effect on frequency

As vocal-fold mass increases, frequency (and pitch) decrease, and vice versa.

Amplitude

Extent of vocal-fold excursion during vibration.

Intensity

Acoustic power of the voice signal; measured in decibels (dB).

Loudness

Psychological correlate of intensity.

Decibel (dB)

Unit used to quantify sound intensity.

Shimmer

Cycle-to-cycle variability in vocal-signal amplitude; reflects loudness stability.

Jitter

Cycle-to-cycle variability in frequency; reflects pitch stability.

Sound level meter

Instrument that objectively measures vocal intensity in dB.

Visualization (endoscopy)

Use of flexible or rigid scopes to directly view laryngeal structures.

Bernoulli effect

Drop in pressure and increase in airflow velocity at a constriction, helping suck vocal folds back together.

Medial compression

Force with which the vocal folds are pressed together at midline.

Longitudinal tension

Degree of vocal-fold stretching along their length.

Vocal attack

Process of adducting the vocal folds to initiate phonation.

Simultaneous vocal attack

Adduction of the folds and onset of exhalation occur together.

Breathy vocal attack

Significant airflow begins before the vocal folds adduct.

Glottal attack

Vocal folds adduct before airflow; includes the hard glottal attack.

Sustained phonation

Maintenance of steady vocal-fold vibration after attack phase.

Termination (phonation)

Abduction of the vocal folds to end phonation.

Modal register

Typical register used in conversational speech.

Glottal fry (pulse register)

Low-pitch, crackly register characterized by short, thick folds and low airflow.

Falsetto

High-pitch register using elongated, thin, tense vocal folds.

Whistle register

Extremely high-frequency phonation produced by edge turbulence of the vocal folds.

Pressed phonation

Voice produced with excessive medial compression, yielding a harsh, strained quality.

Breathy phonation

Voice with incomplete glottal closure allowing audible air escape.

Whisper

Laryngeal adjustment without vocal-fold vibration, often effortful and potentially irritating.

Optimal pitch

Pitch that is most efficient and least taxing for an individual’s vocal mechanism.

Habitual pitch

Pitch level most frequently used in everyday speech.

Average fundamental frequency

Mean F0 across a speech sample such as reading passage or conversation.

Pitch range

Difference between the highest and lowest usable pitches of a speaker.

Maximum phonation time (MPT)

Longest duration a person can sustain a vowel on a single breath.

Diadochokinetic rate (DDK)

Speed of rapid, alternating articulatory movements (e.g., /pʌ tʌ kʌ/).

Prosody

Suprasegmental features—rhythm, stress, pitch and pauses—that convey expression.

Intonation

Pitch variation across an utterance that signals meaning or emotion.

Monopitch

Lack of normal pitch variation during speech.

Monoloudness

Lack of normal loudness variation during speech.

Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory

Explains phonation as interaction of muscular tension, tissue elasticity and aerodynamic forces.

Cover-Body Theory

Model that separates the pliable mucosal cover from the stiffer muscle body to explain wide vocal ranges.

Presbyphonia

Age-related changes resulting in an older-sounding, weaker voice.

Presbylaryngis

Structural aging of the laryngeal tissues and cartilages.

Aphonia

Complete loss of the ability to produce voice.

Vocal nodules

Bilateral, callous-like growths on the mid-membranous vocal-fold edges; result of chronic misuse.

Vocal polyp

Fluid-filled, often unilateral lesion on a vocal fold, linked to acute or chronic phonotrauma.

Laryngeal trauma

Physical injury to the larynx from external events (accident, assault, sports).

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

Backflow of stomach acid that can irritate laryngeal tissues and alter voice.

Neoplasm

New tissue growth in the larynx; may be benign or malignant (cancerous).

Parkinson’s voice changes

Reduced intensity, monopitch and breathy quality due to degenerative motor disease.

Laryngectomy

Surgical removal of part or all of the larynx, often for cancer treatment.

Esophageal speech

Voice substitution method using air injected into the esophagus to create sound.

Electrolarynx

Hand-held vibrating device placed on the neck to create an artificial voice.

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) prosthesis

One-way valve between trachea and esophagus allowing pulmonary air to vibrate esophageal tissue for speech.

Flexible fiberoptic endoscopy

Thin, pliable scope passed through the nose for dynamic viewing of vocal-fold function.

Rigid endoscopy

Straight, metal scope inserted orally to provide high-resolution images of the vocal folds.

Laryngeal palpation

Manual assessment of laryngeal height and muscular tension via external neck touch.

Subglottal pressure

Air pressure below the vocal folds necessary to initiate and sustain phonation.