Describe the cartilages of the larynx. Include information about structure, size, function. Larynx: size of walnut, suspended in neck by muscles, prevents food and water from entering air passage as well as to make sound.
What is cartilage? a though, elastic tissue with a distinct shape like bone but more flexible.
What is ligament? A short, flexible tough fibrous type of connective tissue that connects bone to bone, bone to cartilage or cartilage to cartilage.
What is muscle origin? The point of attachment of a muscle that remains relatively fixed during contraction.
What is muscle insertion? The point of attachment of a muscle that moves most during contraction.
What is dynamic equilibrium? When opposing muscles are working with each other: one is contracting or recoiling as the other releases.
What is muscle antagonism? When opposing muscles are working against each other: both are contracting. Also know as co-contraction.
What are opposing muscles? Muscles that work in opposite directions.
What are paired muscles? Muscles that occur on both sides of the body, one the mirror image of the other.
What is stabilized physiological tremor rate? The rate of vibration innate to the body that occurs when muscle antagonism is sustained.
Describe the following muscles (location and function)
1. posterior cricoarytenoid: originates from the back of the cricoid cartilage and inserts into the muscular processes of the arytenoid carilages. When they contract, they swivel the arytenoids so that the muscular processes are pulled closer to the center in back, whereas the vocal processes spread apart in front.
2. lateral cricoarytenoid: Inserts into the mscluar processes of the arytenoid carilages, but they originate from the sides of the cricoid cartilage. When they contract, they swivel the arytenoids so that the vocal processes are together in front. This action adducs the vocal folds but leaves an opening at the back of the glottis between the arytenoid cartilages.
3. transverse arytenoid: Slides the arytenoid cartilages snugly together, eliminating the opening between them to complete the closure of the glottis. Connects the arytenoid cartilages to each other.
4. oblique arytenoid: Slides the arytenoid cartilages snugly together, eliminating the opening between them to complete the closure of the glottis. Connects the arytenoid cartilages to each other.
What are the two parts of the Thyroarytenoid muscle? Vocalis Muscle and the External Thyroarytenoid Muscle.
What are their functions? When the Vocalis Muscle contracts it increases the tension of the Vocal folds. When the ET muscles contract, they make the vocal folds shorter and thicker.
What are the two parts of the Cricothyroid muscle? Pars Recta and Pars Oblique. What are their functions? They rock the thyroid cartilage forward at its joints with the cricoid cartilage, which stretch the vocal folds longer and thinner.
What are their attachments? Arise from the sides of the cricoid cartilage at the front. From there, they extend back at an oblique angle to attach to the bottom of the thyroid cartilage at the sides.
How is pitch determined? By the rate of vibration in a musical instrument. The faster the vibration, the higher the pitch. Singing=length, thickness, and tension of the vocal folds.
What happens as we descend in pitch? The external thyroarytenoid muscles go to work. As they contract they bring the arytenoid cartilages closer to the thyroid cartilage, shortening the vocal folds.
Summarize the activities of the 3 laryngeal muscles responsible for pitch. The external TA muscles make the VFs shorter, thicker and looser when they engage. This lowers the pitch. the Vocalis Muscles add tension to the vocal folds when they engage. this raises the pitch.
Define register. (What happens at the laryngeal level?) A series of tones that have the same vocal production. Pitches produced with thick vocal folds will sound very different from the same pitches produced with thin vocal folds, even when they are produced by the same singer.
Name and describe the 4 registers of the voice. (Please include the subdivisions of modal.) Glottal fry: The cricothyroids are completely released. Modal Voice: The cricothyroids and the thyroarytenoids are engaged concurrently. -Chest Voice: The action of the TA muscles predominates. The vocal folds are short and thick. The tone is robust/heavy. -Middle/Mixed Voice: Both the TA and CT muscles are active, engaging and releasing in dynamic equilibrium. The tone is balanced. -Head Voice: the actino of the CT muscles predominates. VFs are long and thin. The tone is pure/light. Falsett/Flute:The TAs are completely release. The pitch is determined solely by the contraction of the CTs. only vocal ligaments vibrate, producing an ethereal quality. Whistle: The TAs are completely released and the CTs are fully engaged. Pitch is determined by damping the back of the vocal folds, shortening their vibrating length.
How does heavy vs light differ from loud vs soft? Loudness and softness are regulated by the speed of the breath flow and the reaction of the VFs to that flow. Heavy and light are determined by how much each muscle is involved, i.e. heavy=more TA, light =more CT.
In classical singing, we blend the actions of the TA and CT using dynamic equilibrium.
What are the 3 possible types of onset/offset. Glottal, Aspirate, and Balanced.Describe them. Glottal Onset: The folds are already closed, delaying vibration. An audible 'click' is heard when finally set into vibration. Aspirate Onset: Phonation is delayed momentarily. Air flow reaches glottis before it closes, and air escapes before the folds vibrate. Balanced Onset: Air flow meets the glottis just as it is closing an sets the VFs into vib. immediately. Glottal Offset: The vocal folds close tightly and cease vibration before the air has stopped flowing. Aspirate Offset: VFs separate while air continues to flow.Balanced Offset: VFs separate just as the air ceases to flow from the lungs.
How do the vocal folds come into vibration? The interaction of the VFs with the expiratory breath flow. Elastic recoil and Bernoulli principle keep them in motion, along with continued expiration.
What causes a breathy sound? VFs closed too loosely, or chink is not closed.
What causes a strident sound? A result of heavy vocal production. Carrying chest voice too high, causing VFs to increase tension.
What causes a tight sound? Muscles are working too hard to close the glottis. Also can be a result of tension in neck and walls of throat.
What does the larynx have to do with dynamics? The intrinsic muscles react to the resulting difference in air pressure, subtly adjusting the degree of closure of the vocal folds. In poor singing, some try to strain to sing louder and constrict to sing softer.
How can intonation be fixed? Perfect your understanding of the harmonic function of pitches. Start with a narrow-er range when first beginning. Use correct mixture of CT and TA.
What causes vibrato? It occurs whenever the opposing muscles of the layrnx are working in balance with enough force to create the stabilized physiological tremor rateinnate to the body.
How can vibrato be controlled? Too much vocal effort or an imbalance of breath flow.
What are nodules and how can they be prevented? Extended abuse will produce calluses on the epithelium membrane covering the vocal folds. They can be prevented through: staying hydrated, avoiding pushing your voice once it's tired, correct speaking and singing technique. Basically pay attention to your larynx in the context of your whole body.
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