Physiology of Phonation

These flashcards cover key concepts of the physiology of phonation, including sound, frequency, vocal fold vibration, and various phonatory modes.

What is sound defined as in basic acoustics?

Sound is an audible disturbance in air caused by a vibrating body.

What does simple harmonic motion refer to?

It refers to vibratory motion that has one period of vibration.

How is frequency measured?

Frequency is the number of cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What determines the frequency of vibration of a body?

The frequency is largely determined by mass and tension.

How does mass affect frequency?

Increasing mass decreases frequency.

How does tension affect frequency?

Increasing tension increases frequency.

What is elasticity in terms of phonation?

Elasticity is the property of matter that causes it to return to its original shape after being distorted.

What is a tuning fork an example of?

It demonstrates resonance, the tendency for a body to vibrate at a specific frequency.

What are the four basic types of sound waves?

Simple periodic, complex periodic, aperiodic, mixed periodic/aperiodic.

What is the fundamental frequency (F0)?

It is the lowest frequency of a periodic waveform or a complex phonatory source.

What is the typical rate of vibration for males?

Approximately 120 Hz.

What is the typical rate of vibration for females?

Approximately 220 Hz.

What is the optimal fundamental frequency?

It is the average fundamental frequency at which vocal folds vibrate most efficiently.

What defines modal phonation?

It is the phonatory pattern used during normal phonation, characterized by two simultaneous patterns of vibration.

What is falsetto phonation?

A higher range voice mode characterized by thinner, elongated vocal folds.

What is glottal fry?

A voice mode with a lower pitch range and a quiet phonation, characterized by a frequency of 30-80 Hz.

What does vibrato refer to?

It is a rapid, small change in pitch that adds musical color.

What is the myoelastic-aerodynamic theory?

It describes how the air stream interacts with the elastic properties of vocal folds to produce vibration.

What is the neurochronaxic theory of vocal fold vibration?

It suggests that each cycle of vibration is initiated by a neural impulse, but this does not apply to humans.

How do we change pitch?

By altering tension, mass, and the length of the vocal folds.

What is medial compression?

It is the force exerted toward the midline by muscles to keep vocal folds approximated.

What happens to vocal folds when pitch increases?

Vocal folds become longer, thinner, stiffer, and more rigid.

What does increased subglottal pressure do to vocal intensity?

It increases vocal intensity as subglottal pressure rises.

What is vocal jitter?

Vocal jitter refers to cycle-to-cycle variability in vocal fold vibration.

What causes breathiness in voice?

It is caused by insufficient vocal fold approximation, allowing air to escape between the vocal folds.