Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism

Major Biological Systems

• Respiratory System• Laryngeal System• Supralaryngeal System

Respiratory System

• Involves• Lungs• Trachea• Rib cage• Thorax• Abdomen• Diaphragm• Other major muscle groups

The chest

• Contains the thoraxic cavity

Thoraxic cavity

Abdominalcavity

inhalation

exhalation

sternum

Lungs

Laryngeal System

• Also known as the voice box• Composed mainly of muscle and cartilages• Attaches below to the trachea• Attaches above to the hyoid bone• Vocal folds or cords are in the larynx

Larynx

epiglottis

traqea

Vocal Cords

• In front attached to the thyroid cartilage• In back attached to the arytenoid cartilage• Each cord attached to its own arytenoid cartilage• Each arytenoid cartilage attached to cricoid cartilage• Glottis – space between cords• Subglottal pressure – air from below the larynx

Phonation

• Subglottal air pressure pulls vocal cords apart

• Elasticity of vocal cords brings them back together

• Fold vibration is created• Air flow through glottis causes air pressure

drop and folds are sucked back together again – Bernoulli effect

Phonation

• Abduction – cords are apart• Adduction - adduction

Supralaryngeal System

• Vocal Tract • Pharynx or throat• Oral cavity• Nasal cavity• Articulators

The Larynx

• Composed by• Laryngopharynx – where larynx and

pharynx meet• Oropharynx – next to the posterior portion

of the oral cavity• Nasopharynx – next to the nasal cavity

Larynx

Nasal Cavity

• Begins with the nostrils or nares• Continues to the nasopharynx

Oral Cavity

• Also known as mouth• Begins with lips and continues to the

oropharynx• Contains the major articulators, responsible

for the production of speech sounds

Articulation

• The term articulation means to “join together”• Airstream from the lungs (and accompanying

acoustic vibrations) are directed to oral and nasal cavity which are modified by speech organs to produce sounds.

• The modification may include collision of bursts of air in vocal tract or constriction of speech organs.

The Lips

• Maxilla – supports upper lips• Mandible – supports lower lips• Lower lip more mobile

The Lips

The Lips

The Lips

• Sounds associated with lips• Labial – which are they????• Bilabial – which are they????

• Movements• Retracted• Rounded

The Lips

The teeth

• Sounds associated with lips• Labiodental – which are they???• Dental or interdental – which are they????

The Alveolar Ridge

• Also known as the gum ridge of the maxilla• Sounds associated with the alveolar ridge

• Alveolar – which are they?

The Palate

• Also known as hard palate or roof of the mouth

• Separates Nasal cavity from oral cavity• Sounds associated with palate are

• Palatal – which are they???

The Palate

The Velum

• Also known as soft palate• Contains the uvula• Velopharyngeal closure – prevents air from

entering the nasal cavity• Raised closed velum – oral sounds• Lowered velum, closed mouth – nasal sounds

• Sounds associated with velum• Velar – which are they?

The Velum

The Glottis

• Sound associated with the glottis – which is it?

The Tongue

• The major articulator of the production of sounds

• Parts of the tongue• Tip• Blade• Front• Back• Root

The Tongue

• Sounds associated with the tongue• Lingual – which are they????

The vocal tract and Resonance

• Resonance – the unique quality due to the unique vocal tract shape and accompanying vibratory pattern