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

 Outer Nose

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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