SLH 358 - Phonatory System Anatomy

The phonatory system is also known as the…

laryngeal or voicing system.

The phonatory system protects the…

lungs.

The phonatory system assists in performance of…

physically demanding tasks.

The phonatory system produces a special kind of sound called…

voicing, also known as vocal fold vibration, or phonation.

While we tend to think of the laryngeal system as having the main function of speech, it is actually designed to…

act as a valve and create air pressure in the abdomen.

What is not considered a vital role of the laryngeal system?

Speech. While useful, it is not vital. The system was co-opted for communication.

While we tend to think of it as one structure, the larynx is actually…

a system of connected parts.

The laryngeal cartilages include the…

Cricoid, arytenoids, thyroid, epiglottis, corniculates, and cuneiforms.

The larynx is comprised of the…

laryngeal cartilages, hyoid bone, laryngeal ligaments, and membranes.

The cricoid cartilage is a hyaline cartilage ring which fully encircles the

trachea.

Along with maintaining airway structure, the cricoid serves as…

an attachment point for other laryngeal cartilages.

The points of connection for other laryngeal cartilages to the cricoid is called…

facets.

The lower point at the front of the cricoid is called the…

arch of the cricoid.

The arytenoid is…

a pair of cartilages that are asymmetrical and found on the upper facets of the cricoid.

The thin point at the top of the arytenoid is called the?

apex.

The larger bulbus point on the arytenoid is called the?

Muscular process.

The third point on the arytenoid across from the apex and muscular process is called the…

vocalic process.

The muscular process attaches to…

three different muscles and thus is much larger the the other points.

The vocalic process attaches to the…

vocal ligament.

The thyroid is a cartilage with four major portions called the

upper cornua, thyroid lamina, thyroid notch, and lower cornua.

The upper cornua (superior horns) are found…

at the top back portion of the thyroid.

The thyroid lamina is the…

large flat plate portions of the thyroid.

The thyroid notch is the?

Dip at the front of the thyroid.

The lower cornua (inferior horns) are found…

at the bottom portion of the thyroid toward the back.

What is the thyroid angle?

The angle that the thyroid sides form post puberty which is between 90-120 degrees.

What is the primary factor in determining the thyroid angle?

Age and testosterone level.

When the thyroid is exposed to more testosterone the…

angle (shap) changes and increases in weight.

Why do children have higher and more airy voices?

Because their thyroid has a wider angle making the arytenoids farther apart which gives less closure and pressure to the vocal folds.

Around the age of puberty for men and women, the thyroid undergoes

sexual dimorphism where the angle for men becomes much more acute than the angle for women.

Why do men have less airy and deeper voices?

Due to the higher amount of testosterone in men, the vocal folds gain more weight and angle of the thyroid becomes more acute and shallower, pushing the arytenoids closer and thus allowing for more closure to the posterier glottal gap, which reduces airiness and deepens the voice.

What is the role of the Corniculates?

It is assumed their purpose is to add mass and stability to the arytenoids.

The corniculates sit on top of the….

Arytenoid.

What are the cuneiforms?

Two pieces of cartilage embedded in soft tissue.

Where are the cunneifroms?

On the higher lump sitting atop the arytenoids.

What is the role of the cunneiforms?

They are believed to add a firm structure to the soft tissue in the area.

What are the corniculates attached by?

Nothing, they have no attachment by muscle or ligament.

What does the hyoid bone do?

It is involved in raising the larynx and lowering the jaw through it’s many muscle attachments.

The hyoid bone is found…

at the top of the laryngeal system, in front of the epiglottis and above the thyroid cartilage.

The goal of the majority of laryngeal ligaments and membranes is to…

fill in the laryngeal structure and make it air tight.

The triticial cartilage

a small cartilage located within the lateral aspect of the thyrohyoid membrane and strengthens the lateral thyrohyoid ligament.

The conus elasticus is a?

a membrane that lies under the mucous membrane connecting the cricoid cartilage with the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages

What are the vocal ligaments?

The courses between the inside of the thyroid angle and the vocalic processes of the arytenoid cartilages.

Abduction of the vocal ligaments allows for…

breathing to occur because the ligament is open allowing air to pass.

Adduction of the vocal ligaments allows for…

voicing because the ligament is closed allowing vibration.

Stretching of the vocal ligaments does what?

It stretches them to have less mass per unit length which means they can vibrate faster and change the pitch.

What allows the vocal ligaments to stretch?

The movement of the thyroid cartilage as it shifts forward.

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles connect…

parts of the larynx to each other.

Extrinsic laryngeal muscles…

connect the larynx to structures outside the larynx.

What are the two types of extrinsic laryngeal muscles?

suprahyoid set and infrahyoid set which connect above and below the hyoid.

What is the role of intrinsic laryngeal muscles?

To abduct or adduct the vocal folds, affecting vocal fold tension.

Name the intrinsic laryngeal muscles.

Vocalis, internal or external muscularis, cricothyroid.

Posterior and lateral cricoarytenoids.

Transverse and oblique arytenoids.

All of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles are what?

In pairs bilaterally.

The internal thyroarytenoid is also called the

thyrovocalis or vocalis muscles

The origin of the internal thyroarytenoid (vocalis) is found at the

angle of thyroid

The insertion of the internal thyroarytenoid (vocalis) is found at the

vocal process of the arytenoid.

What action does the internal thyroarytenoid (vocalis) make?

It regulates contractions of the vocal folds as a tensor which adds stiffness/structure to the VC when contracted.

When the vocalis contracts, the vocal ligament…

Can’t contract and thus becomes flaccid.

The external thyroarytenoid is also called the…

thyromuscularis or muscularis muscles

The origin of the external thyroarytenoid (muscularis) is found…

at the angle of the thyroid on the side next to the vocalis.

The insert of the external thyroarytenoid (muscularis) is found…

at the muscular process of the arytenoid.

What is the action of the external thyroarytenoid (muscularis)?

It pulls the arytenoids forward and rotates them to cause adduction.

Where is the origin of the cricothyroid muscles?

At the anterolateral aspect of the arch of the cricoid.

Where is the insertion of the cricothyroid muscle?

At the inferior cornu and caudal margin of the thyroid.

Where is the action of the cricothyroid muscle?

It pulls the thyroid forward and elevates the arch of the cricoid. In doing so it also regulates vocal pitch by tensing and lengthening the vocal folds.

Where is the origin of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?

At the posterior surface of the cricoid.

Where is the insertion of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles?

At the muscular process of the arytenoid.

What is the action of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle?

It opens and tenses the vocal folds and are the only abductors of the larynx.

Where is the origin of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?

At the superior border of the arch of the cricoid.

Where is the insertion of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?

At the muscular process of the arytenoid.

What is the action of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?

It closes and tenses the vocal folds as an adductor and is a major antagonist of the posterior cricoarytenoid. This adds medial compression to the vocal folds.

Where is the origin of the transverse arytenoid muscle?

At the posterior edge of the arytenoids.

Where is the insertion of the transverse arytenoid muscle?

At the posterior edge of the arytenoids but on the contralateral member.

What is the action of the transverse arytenoid muscle?

To approximate the arytenoids; abductors.

Where is the origin of the oblique arytenoid muscle?

At the posterior surface and lateral margin of the arytenoid.

Where is the insert of the oblique arytenoid muscle?

At the apex of the contralateral member.

What is the action of the oblique arytenoid muscle?

To draw apices of the arytenoids together as an adductor.

The infrahyoid set of extrinsic laryngeal muscles includes…

The thyrohyoid, sternothyroid, sternohyoid, and omohyoid.

The Suprahyoid set of extrinsic laryngeal muscles includes…

The stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and the anterior & posterior bellies of the digastric.

Suprahyoid Muscles are attached to…

The larynx above the hyoid.

Suprahyoid Muscles do what?

Elevate the larynx which heightens the pitch.

The infrahyoid muscles are attached ...

Below the hyoid.

The infrahyoid muscles do what?

Pulls down on the larynx and lowers pitch.

The role of intrinsic laryngeal muscles is to control the…

shape of the glottis and vibratory behavior of the vocal folds, primarily relating to abduction and adduction.

The role of extrinsic laryngeal muscle is to…

support and control the position of the larynx to elevate or depress it.