Ella's SOS Exam 2 'let

hyoid bone

u-shaped bone in anterior neck, below the jaw, where larynx is suspended from

has no join connecting it to skeleton --\> has substantial freedom of movement

any moment of bone will be transferred to larynx (i.e. yawning makes larynx go down, swallowing goes up)

no direct role in phonation

attachment point for base of tongue, several muscles of jaw, and several muscles important for swallowing

thyroid cartilage

shield-shaped cartilage that sits anterior to the larynx and forms the laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple)

has two sets of projections: superior horns --\> connect through ligamentous capsule to hyoid bone

inferior horns --\> extend downward to attach to cricoid cartilage

cricoid cartilage

the ring-shaped structure (only cartilage to form a complete circle) that forms the lower portion of the larynx

attached to inferior horns of thyroid cartilage through synovial joints, which allow cartilages to pivot/slide in position relative to each other

arytenoid cartilages

two small cartilages that sit atop the posterior superior surface of cricoid, shaped like malformed triangles

synovial joints connect arytenoids to cricoid, allowing them to rotate on the surface and slide together/apart

arytenoids are posterior point of attachment for true vocal folds + connecting points for muscles that abduct/adduct the vocal folds

Bernoulli Effect

there is a decrease in pressure as air velocity increases

meaning... as air flows through the glottis, air velocity increases and pressure decreases

mucosal wave

wavelike motion of the vocal folds during vibration, caused when outermost layer (squamous epithelium) of vocal folds move during oscillation

vocal ligament

part of the body of vocal folds --\> made of intermediate lamina propria and deep lamina propria

corniculate cartilage

a pair of horn-like pieces of elastic cartilage located at the apex of each arytenoid cartilage

vocal process

the process at the front points of the arytenoid cartilage (posterior point of attachment), pointed toward front of thyroid cartilage

muscular process

the process at the side of each arytenoid cartilage, toward the horns of the thyroid cartilage

cricothyroid membrane

membrane between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages of the larynx

links the two structures

thyroarytenoid muscle (TA)

muscle bundle that forms the body of the vocal folds

originates in thyroid cartilage and inserts into vocal process of arytenoid cartilage

shortens/thickens the vocal folds, making it a primary muscle in the production of low-pitched sound

on contraction, it draws the arytenoid cartilage closer to anterior thyroid cartilage, shortening vocal fold and lowering pitch

vocalis (thyrovocalis)

the internal thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle

muscularis

the external thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle

epiglottis

a flap of cartilage that covers the windpipe while swallowing

glottis

space between the vocal folds

trachea

allows air to pass to and from lungs (air pipe)

thyrohyoid membrane

connects thyroid cartilage to hyoid bone

links the two structures, provides a seal, prevents excess movement

has two small holes for nerves that serve larynx to pass through

posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

muscles of abduction (OPEN the glottis)

lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

muscles of adduction (CLOSE the glottis)

when contracted, they rotate the arytenoids to bring together the vocal process + help close posterior portion of glottis

interarytenoid muscles

muscles of adduction (CLOSE the glottis)

transverse interarytenoids (in front of oblique)

oblique interarytenoids (criss-cross behind transverse)

oblique interarytenoid muscle

muscles of adduction (CLOSE the glottis)

criss-cross behind transverse portion and continue into the aryepiglottic fold

transverse interarytenoid muscle

muscles of adduction (CLOSE the glottis)

slide the arytenoids together along the surface of the cricoid

squamous epithelium

thin external layer of skin cells that covers the vocal folds

lamina propria

transitional layer between epithelium cover and muscle, subdivided into three distinct regions:

superficial lamina propria (SLP): outermost, thinnest layer and lowest viscosity, coupled to epithelium through a basement membrane

intermediate lamina propria (ILP): intermediate layer, wider and more viscous

deep lamina propria (DLP): the densest, most viscous of the three layers

anterior commissure

the anterior attachment point of the vocal folds

synovial joints

flexible joints between cartilages that allow for movement (pivoting/sliding/rotating of cartilages)

i.e.

- synovial joints connect arytenoids to cricoid

- synovial joints connect cricoid cartilage to inferior horns of thyroid

conus elasticus

strong membrane that lines the trachea + arises from the inside of the cricoid cartilage

extends upward to support the underside of the vocal folds

laryngeal prominence

Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage)

aryepiglottic folds

located at the top of the larynx (aka the "laryngeal collar" or "epilarynx"), encapsulates epiglottis and arytenoids

formed of muscle and tissue

helps pull epiglottis down to cover airway during swallowing

plays an important role in vocal resonance

adduction

glottis closed; the process of vocal folds being drawn together, used for singing

abduction

glottis open; the process of vocal folds being drawn apart, used for respiration and to stop phonation

cricothyroid muscle

a pair of muscles that arise from external surface of cricoid cartilage to insert on the inside of thyroid cartilage

contraction pulls down and out on thyroid cartilage --\> stretch/lengthen the vocal folds when they contract (makes them longer/thinner/tenser)

affects pitch and register (RAISES the pitch)

laryngeal ventricle

space between true and false vocal folds

offset

the release of sound

glottal, aspirate, balanced offset