Velopharyngeal-nasal Function & Speech Production

Skeletal Superstructure

• pg 120 textbook
• temporal bone
• nasal bone
• alveolar process
• maxillary bone
• mandible
• styloid process
• mastoid process
• zygomatic bone
• nasal choana
• vomer

The Pharynx

• extends from base of skull to cricoid cartilage in front and to 6th cervical vertebra in the back
• pharynx is an oval tube, larger side to side than front to back
• connective tissue predominates at the top
• muscle predominates at the bottom
• continues w/esophagus at lower end
• 3 cavities
    * nasopharynx
      * hard palate is lower boundary
    * oropharynx
      * between hard palate and hyoid bone
      * contains palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils
    * laryngopharynx
      * between the hyoid and base of cricoid cartilage
• faucial isthmus
    * narrow opening between velum and the tongue and between anterior faucial pillars

Velum

• velum means “curtain”
• consists of soft palate and uvula
• covered w/connective tissue
• Muscle fibers are most numerous in the middle portion; scarce at the front and back

Nasal Cavities

• also called nasal fossae
• 2 chambers separated by nasal septum
• septum is cartilage at front, bone at back
• floor is hard palate

• lateral walls are made up of conchae
    * conchae - curled and convoluted bone
• nasal vestibule at fornt
• rich blood supply

The Outer Nose

• root
• bridge
• dorsum
• ala
• apex
• anterior naris
• base
• septum

Forces

• passive
    * recoil of muscles, cartilages, and connective tissues
    * surface tension
    * gravity
    * aeromechanical forces
• active
    * muscles of pharynx
    * muscles of velum
    * muscles of outer nose

Muscles of Pharynx

The constrictors

• function: pull pharyngeal walls inward and forward to constrict pharyngeal tube
• Superior constrictor
    * originates at front of pharyngeal tube and inserts into median raphe of posterior pharyngeal wall
• middle constrictor
• inferior constrictor
    * consists of 2 parts
      * thyropharyngeus (upper)
      * cricopharyngeus (lower)

Salpingopharyngeus

• function: pulls lateral pharyngeal walls upward and inward
• origin: near lower border of pharyngeal orifice of auditory tube
• insertion: lateral pharyngeal wall

Stylopharyngeus

• Function: pulls up on pharynx and pulls lateral walls outward (widens pharynx)
• Origin: styloid process
• Insertion: lateral pharyngeal wall and thyroid cartilage

Palatopharyngeus

• Function: pulls inward on upper pharyngeal walls and upward on lower lateral pharyngeal walls (with velum fixed)
• Origin: soft palate
• Insertion: lower lateral wall of pharynx and thyroid cartilage

Muscles of the velum

• Palatal Levator (levator veli palatini)
    * function: draws the velum upward and backward

• Palatal tensor (tensor veli palatini)
    * function: opens the auditory tube
• Uvulus
    * function: shorten, lift, increase bulk of velum
    * only intrinsic muscle of the velum

• Glossopalatine
    * function: pulls downward and forward on the velum (with tongue fixed)
    * Origin: side of tongue
    * insertion: lower surface of palatal aponeurosis
• Pharyngopalatine
    * function: pulls downward and backward on velum (with pharynx fixed)
    * origin: lower lateral wall of pharynx and thyroid cartilage
    * insertion: runs through posterior faucial pillar and inserts into soft palate and superior constrictor muscle

Muscles of the Outer Nose

• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi
    * function: draws the ala upward and enlarges the naris
    * origin: frontal process and infraorbital margin of maxilla
    * insertion: divides with one part inserting into upper lip and the other into cartilage of nasal ala
• Anterior nasal dilator
    * function: enlarges the naris
    * origin: lower edge of lateral nasal cartilage
    * insertion: deep surface of the skin near the outer margin of the naris on the same side
• posterior nasal dilator
    * function: enlarges the naris
    * origin: nasal notch of maxilla and sesamoid cartilages of the outer nose
    * insertion: into the skin near the alar cartilage along outer naris on the same side
• nasalis
    * function: constricts the naris
    * origin: maxilla
    * insertion: aponeurosis
• depressor alae nasi
    * function: draw outer nose down, decrease naris aperture (constricts naris)
    * origin: fossa of maxilla
    * insertion: back part of ala

Movements of Velopharyngeal-nasal apparatus

• movements of pharynx
    * lengthening/shortening by vertical movements of larynx
    * inward/outward movements of lateral pharyngeal walls
    * forward/backward movements of posterior pharyngeal walls
    * forward/backward movements of velum, tongue, and epiglottis
• movements of the velum