Articulation and Resonance Anatomy Review

Articulation and Resonance Review Sheet - Anatomy

Primary and Secondary Purposes of the Articulators

  • Articulators serve crucial roles in speech production and swallowing.

  • Primary purposes include:

    • Shaping airflow to create distinct phonemes (speech sounds).

    • Assisting in mastication (chewing) and deglutition (swallowing).

  • Secondary purposes may involve:

    • Aesthetic functions, contributing to the appearance and facial expressions.

Definition of Articulation

  • Articulation refers to the process of producing speech sounds by coordinating the movement of the articulators.

Mobile and Immobile Articulators

  • Mobile articulators include:

    • Tongue

    • Lower lip

    • Soft palate (velum)

    • Mandible (lower jaw)

  • Immobile articulators include:

    • Hard palate

    • Upper lip

    • Alveolar ridge (bony ridge holding teeth).

Relationship Between Articulatory and Respiratory/Phonatory Systems

  • Articulatory changes influence resonance and sound quality, which are shaped by the resonant properties of the vocal tract.

  • Both systems work synergistically to produce clear, intelligible speech.

Source-Filter Theory

  • The basic premise of the source-filter theory involves:

    • Source: The voice produced by the vibration of the vocal folds.

    • Filter: The shape and configuration of the vocal tract that modifies the sound.

  • Elements include:

    • The source (phonation).

    • The resonating cavities (oral, nasal, and pharyngeal).

Bones of the Skull and Face

Identification

  • Important skull and facial bones include:

    • Temporal bone: Contains structures for hearing and balance.

    • Sphenoid bone: Key component of the skull base; forms part of the eye socket.

    • Maxilla: Upper jaw; supports the upper teeth and the nasal cavity.

    • Zygomatic bone: Forms the prominence of the cheeks.

    • Nasal bone: Forms the bridge of the nose.

    • Occipital bone: Forms the back of the skull, houses the foramen magnum.

Type of Joints

  • The joints connecting these bones are mostly synarthrodial (immovable) joints (e.g., sutures).

Sutures

  • Coronal suture: Connects the frontal bone to the parietal bones.

  • Sagittal suture: Connects the left and right parietal bones along the midline.

Temporomandibular Joint

  • Location: Joint connecting the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone.

  • Movements: Allows for complex movements including opening, closing, and lateral movement.

Bones of the Hard Palate

  • The hard palate consists of:

    • Palatine processes of the maxilla

    • Horizontal plates of the palatine bone.

Teeth

Identification and Specialization

  • Different types of teeth include:

    • Incisors: Cutting teeth located at the front.

    • Canines: Pointed teeth for tearing food.

    • Premolars: Flat surfaces for grinding food.

    • Molars: Larger, flat teeth at the back for crushing food.

  • Deciduous teeth: Primary teeth that fall out to be replaced by permanent teeth.

  • Successional teeth: Permanent teeth that succeed (replace) their primary counterparts.

Application of Directional Terms

  • Directional terms applied to teeth include:

    • Mesial: Toward the midline.

    • Distal: Away from the midline.

    • Buccal: Toward the cheek.

    • Lingual: Toward the tongue.

Upper vs. Lower Dental Arches

  • General characteristics:

    • Upper dental arch: Broader and more U-shaped compared to the lower arch.

    • Lower dental arch: More V-shaped and smaller.

Occlusion and Malocclusion

  • Typical occlusion: Proper alignment of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed.

  • Malocclusion: Misalignment issues such as:

    • Open bite: Lack of vertical overlap of the teeth.

    • Microdontia: Abnormally small teeth.

  • Other atypical dentition characteristics include crossbite, overbite, and underbite.

Cavities of the Vocal Tract

Boundaries

  • Vocal tract boundaries include:

    • Oral cavity: Extends from the lips to the hard palate.

    • Nasal cavity: Extends from the nostrils to the choanae.

    • Pharyngeal cavity: Divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Major Features

  • Oral Cavity: Contains structures such as teeth, tongue, and hard palate, plays a role in resonance.

  • Nasal Cavity: Houses sensitive smell receptors and contributes to nasal resonance.

Mucous Membrane

  • A mucous membrane is a layer of epithelial tissue that secretes mucus, covers and lines various cavities within our body, contributing to lubrication and protection.

Conchae vs. Choanae

  • Conchae: Bony structures in the nasal cavity that increase surface area and air turbulence for filtering.

  • Choanae: Openings that connect the nasal cavity to the nasopharynx.

Velopharyngeal Closure

  • Involves the position of the velum closing against the posterior pharyngeal wall during speech.

  • Patterns of closure include:

    • Involvement of the pharyngeal wall aids in regulating nasal resonance.

Lips

Landmarks and Muscles

  • Landmarks include the vermilion border, philtrum, and cupids bow.

  • Muscles of the lips include:

    • Orbicularis oris: Encircles the mouth; responsible for lip closure.

    • Zygomaticus major: Elevates the corner of the mouth; used in smiling.

  • Innervation: All muscles are innervated by the facial nerve (VII).

Tongue

Characteristics and Function

  • The tongue functions as a muscular hydrostat, supporting precision in movement and shape.

  • Positioning: The tongue sits in both the oral and pharyngeal cavities.

  • Attachment Points include:

    • To the epiglottis and hyoid bone.

  • Taste Buds:

    • Located on the dorsum of the tongue, primarily on the papillae.

  • Inferior Surface: Smooth, connects to the floor of the mouth.

Muscles

  • Intrinsic muscles: Allow for fine motor control; change the shape of the tongue.

  • Extrinsic muscles: Change the position within the oral cavity; includes:

    • Genioglossus

    • Styloglossus

    • Hyoglossus.

  • Innervation: All tongue muscles are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (XII).

Mandible

Muscles and Functions

  • Muscles include:

    • Masseter: Elevates the mandible for chewing.

    • Temporalis: Assists in closing the jaw.

    • Lateral pterygoid: Helps in opening the jaw and lateral movements.

  • Role: In mastication and speech; provides dynamic balance for other articulators.

  • Innervation: Mainly innervated by the trigeminal nerve (V).

Velum

Structure and Function

  • The velum is the soft tissue structure that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.

  • It attaches to the hard palate, allowing movement to regulate airflow.

  • Muscles of the Velum include:

    • Levator veli palatini: Elevates the velum.

    • Tensor veli palatini: Tenses the velum, opening the Eustachian tube.

  • Muscles Involved in Velopharyngeal Closure

    • Most are innervated by the vagus nerve (X) through the pharyngeal plexus.

Pharynx

Structure and Muscles

  • The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavity and mouth to the esophagus and larynx.

  • Location: Situated posteriorly to the oral and nasal cavities.

  • Muscles include:

    • Superior pharyngeal constrictor: Constricts the pharynx during swallowing.

    • Middle pharyngeal constrictor: Also aids in swallowing.

    • Inferior pharyngeal constrictor: Assists in the transport of food to the esophagus.

  • Innervation: Primarily by the vagus nerve (X) via the pharyngeal plexus and the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).