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

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