Sarah Boucher McCoy Ch. 11

Sarah Boucher McCoy Ch. 11

What is the location and function of the intrinsic tongue muscles?

found within the "blade" of the tongue, moves to form the vowels and consonants of speech

 

What is the location and function of the extrinsic tongue muscles?

lie below, behind and above the blade enabling it to be extended, retracted, elevated, depressed and curled. 

 

Why does movement of the tongue impact other structures of vocal tract?

because it fills the space within the jaw, extending down to the hyoid bone and up into the pharynx and palate, these multiple attachments points the tongue effects everything

 

Name and describe the 4 tongue muscles that make up the “muscle sandwich”.

superior and inferior longitudinal tongue muscles: have long fibers that run from the anterior to the posterior of the dorsum, when they contract the entire dorsum constracts

horizontal and vertical tongue muscles: horizontal run through the medial and lateral plane of the dorsum and the verticle muscles are oriented from the top to the bottom. Contracting narrows the blade and is also responsible for curling the sides upward to form a long furrow; contracting the later flattens the tongue.

Name and describe the extrinsic tongue muscles.

palatoglossus:  originates in the soft palate and runs within the walls of the pharynx to insert into the underside of the tongue. it can raise the posterior of the tongue and or lower the soft palate

styloglossus: begins at the styloid process, a protrusion of bone immediately in front of and slightly below the ear canal  and inserts into the posterior of the tongue. Contraction retracts and elevates the back of the tongue and assists with curling the central portion

genioglossus: pulls the tongue forward, fills the interior arch of the mandible and inserts into the underside of the dorsum

hyoglossus: contraction makes the tongue depressed, links the tongue with the hyoid bone

 

What is the biological function of the pharynx and palate?

they form and airway allowing the transport of oxygen to the lungs, and they serve as the entrance to the alimentary canal, passing sustenance to the digestive system.

 

Describe the alveolar ridge.

a bony prominence that leads to your hard palate, it plays an important role in the production of consonants

 

What are the faucial pillars?

near the back of the tongue, resembling the vertical sections of a proscenium arch

 

What is another name for your soft palate?

velum

 

What is the purpose of your uvula?

serves as a collection point for excessive mucus dropping it into the throat

 

Describe the muscles of the pharynx

Superior pharyngeal constrictors

Inferior pharyngeal constrictors

middle pharyngeal constrictors 

palatoglossus: connects the tongue to the palate via the pharynx and raises the tongue, narrows the pharynx and lowers the palate

palatopharyngeus: originates in the soft palate and courses downward through the pharynx to insert in the thyroid cartilage, lowers the soft palate, tenses and narrows the pharynx and elevates the larynx

stylopharyngeal muscles: originates from the styloid process and runs downward between the superior and middle constrictors, where it merges with the palatopharyngeus and connects to the thyroid cartilage, actively opening the pharynx, accompanied by laryngeal elevation

salpingopharyngeus: forms a narrow band running from the auditory tube downward to merge with the palatopharyngeus, contraction elevates the lateral walls to narrow the pharynx and also opens the end of the auditory tube to equalize pressure in the middle ear

Describe the muscles of the soft palate.

 levator palati muscle: forms the bulk of the palate, originates from the temporal bone and the auditory tube to form a sling-like structure drawing the palate upward and backward at an oblique angle to close against the the pharynx

musculus uvulae: retracts the uvula upward into the soft palate

tensor palati muscle: connects the palate to the skull and auditory tubes, the muscle works together with the palatopharyngeus to open the auditory tubes and equalize air pressure in the middle of the air

How do we lower the soft palate?

passively: the tensor and levator palati muscles are relaxed, the weight of gravity pressing upon the palate will passively depress it, opening the nasal port

actively: palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus both contract to actively lower the palate

 

Describe the jaw.  What is its anatomical name?

mandible, a single unpaired bone that resembles the letter U or V when viewed from above

 

How does the strength of the muscles that close the jaw compare with the muscles of those that open the jaw?

the muscles the open the jaw are relatively weak, the muscles that close the jaw are very strong

 

Describe the primary muscles responsible for jaw elevation (closing)?

masseter:originates in the zygomatic region and inserts over most of the ramus

internal pterygoid: originates at the pterygoid plate and inserts to the inside of the jaw at the base of the ramus

temporalis: a large fanshaped muscle that covers most of the side of the head above the ear, inserting into the anterior of the ramus near the coronid process

What is the advantage besides size that the jaw closing muscles have over the jaw opening muscles?

because they are connected to the skull rather than the moveable hyoid bone

 

How does opening the mouth for everyday life differ from opening the mouth for singing?

in singing the jaw must be dropped further and more quickly than is possible by gravity alone

Describe the muscles that can be used to actively open the jaw.

digastric: two bellies, posterior belly runs from the mastoid process to the hyoid bone and contracts to elevate the larynx when swallowing, the anterior belly continues from the hyoid bone, insterting into the mandible near the point of the chin and contracts to depress the jaw

mylohyoid: a fan shaped muscle originating along the insdie of the mandible and inserting into the hyoid bone, muscular floor of the mouth

geniohyoid: thin band of muscle connecting the mandible and hyoid

Why is muscular antagonism such a bad problem in jaw movement for singing?

 if resistive tension is present in the jaw closers, the openers - which are dual function muscles - will induce their secondary action: laryngeal elevation.

What is the solution to this problem?

minimize tension in all jaw muscles during phonation

Describe the final two jaw-depressing muscles that do not have a connection to the hyoid.

platysma: a wide thin muscle of the face that is primarily responsible for producing a grimace

lateral pterygoid muscle: originates in the pterygoid plate, it travels laterally to insert into the top of the ramus

 

What is sublaxation of the jaw?

dropping the jaw out of its normal socket