Velopharyngeal-Nasal and Pharyngeal-Oral Systems Notes

MODULE 6: The Velopharyngeal-Nasal and Pharyngeal-Oral Systems

SKELETAL FRAMEWORK

  • Cranial Bones include:

    • Frontal bone
    • Parietal bone (paired)
    • Temporal bone (paired)
    • Occipital bone
    • Sphenoid bone
    • Ethmoid bone

  • Facial Bones include:

    • Maxillary bone (paired)
    • Palatine bone (paired)
    • Vomer
    • Inferior nasal conchae (paired)
    • Lacrimal bone (paired)
    • Nasal bone (paired)
    • Zygomatic bone (paired)
    • Mandible

  • Cranial Fossa:

    • The floor of the cranial cavity is divided into three main parts.
PHARYNX

  • The pharynx is an oval tube, larger sideways than front to back.

  • Composed predominantly of:

    • Connective tissue at the top
    • Muscle at the bottom

  • It connects to the esophagus at the lower end.

  • Cavities of the Pharynx:

    • Nasopharynx - Ends at the hard palate.
    • Oropharynx - Ends at the hyoid bone.
    • Laryngopharynx (Hypopharynx) - Ends at the base of the cricoid cartilage.

  • Structures in the Nasopharynx:

    • Eustachian tubes: Troubleshoot ear pressure and drain fluid.
    • Adenoids (nasopharyngeal tonsils) present.

  • Structures in the Oropharynx:

    • Contains palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils.

  • Hypopharynx:

    • Most inferior aspect of the pharynx, extending from the hyoid bone to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage.
PHARYNGEAL CANCER
  • Can develop in any section of the pharynx.
  • Most commonly squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), with HPV-related types having better treatment responsiveness.
VELUM
  • The velum (soft palate and uvula) affects nasality. Consists of connective tissue with muscle fibers more abundant in the middle than the edges.
NASAL CAVITIES
  • Formed as two chambers divided by the nasal septum, composed of cartilage and bone.
  • The floor is the hard palate, and lateral walls have curled conchae with rich blood supply.
PARANASAL SINUSES
  • Hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull and facial bones, including:
    • Frontal
    • Maxillary
    • Ethmoid
    • Sphenoid
FORCES
  • Passive Forces: Muscle recoil, surface tension, gravity, and aeromechanical forces.
  • Active Forces: Muscles of the pharynx, velum, and outer nose.
MUSCLES OF THE PHARYNX
  • Superior Constrictor: Constricts the wall during swallowing.
  • Middle Constrictor: Similar function and origin as the superior constrictor.
  • Inferior Constrictor: Has two parts (thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus) and aids in swallowing.
  • Other Muscles:
    • Salpingopharyngeus: Pulls lateral walls inward.
    • Stylopharyngeus: Widens the pharynx.
    • Palatopharyngeus: Constricts upper walls while raising lower walls.
MOVEMENTS OF THE PHARYNX
  • Includes lengthening/shortening, inward/outward movements of lateral walls, and various movements of the velum and tongue.
MUSCLES OF THE VELUM
  • Levator Veli Palatini: Elevates the velum.
  • Musculus Uvulae: Shortens and lifts the velum.
  • Glossopalatine: Pulls the velum downward.
  • Tensor Veli Palatini: Dilates the auditory tube but doesn't affect the velum directly.
MOVEMENTS OF THE VELUM
  • Primarily upward/backward and downward/forward motion.
MOVEMENTS OF THE OUTER NOSE
  • Controlled by various dilator and constrictor muscles that influence the naris size.
VELOPHARYNGEAL CONTROL
  • Port Size: Methods of closing the velopharynx include elevating the velum, moving lateral walls inward, or both.
  • Airway Resistance: Altered by anatomical changes in the velopharyngeal port and nasal cavities.
  • Acoustic Impedance: Influenced by the status of the velopharyngeal port.
PHONATION AND SPEECH
  • Vowel production varies in velopharyngeal closure; nasal consonants require an open velopharynx.
  • Speech activities involve rapid adjustments in velopharyngeal function based on consonant and vowel sounds.
DEVELOPMENT AND AGING
  • Structural changes in the pharynx and oral cavity occur with aging, although functional aspects remain relatively stable.
MANDIBLE
  • The only movable bone in the skull housing the lower teeth.
MUSCLES OF THE MANDIBLE
  • Include the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles which control elevation, depression, and movements during chewing.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ)
  • Allows for movements such as elevation, depression, protrusion, and retraction while involved in mastication and speech.
MOVEMENTS OF THE LIPS
  • Manage complex motor tasks including opening/closing and various facial expressions.
ARTICULATORY DESCRIPTION
  • Covers both vowels and consonants with detailed attributes regarding constriction and articulation points.
CONCLUSION
  • Understanding the skeletal framework, muscles, and movements of the pharyngeal-oral system is essential for comprehending speech production mechanisms and potential disorders due to aging or other factors.