Sam Meredith McCoy Ch. 7

What is the axial skeleton? The portion of the human skeleton that consists of the spine and thorax

What is the appendicular skeleton? The remainder of the skeleton including the skull, legs, arms, and pelvis

What is the dens or odontoid process? The process that extends from the axis and inserts into the atlas

Which vertebrae create the pivot point around which the skull can be tilted and rotated? The atlas and the axis

What is the spinous process, where are they located, and what is their function? They are the projections located on the posterior end of each vertebra. They are a place where the muscles of the spine can attach.

Describe the size and angle of the spinous processes. The processes are stubby and extend from the back at almost a right angle in the lumbar region. In the thoracic spine, they are longer and extend away from the spine in an oblique pattern. In the cervical region the seventh cervical vertebra is rather large and can be seen and felt by most people.

What are the bones of the pelvis? The sacrum, the ilium, the pubis, the ischium

How is McCoy’s description of the connection of the ribs to the sternum different than Malde’s? 

Describe the parts of the sternum. There are two plates called the manubrium and corpus. At birth there is a flexible joint between these two bones, but it is rigid by adulthood. The third part of the sternum is a small projection found at the inferior end of the sternum called the xiphoid process.

Describe the pleural sacs and their function. They are membraneous sacs that connect the lungs to the wall of the thorax. Since the lungs are attached to the thorax in this manner, dimensional changes in the thorax also affect the lungs, which allows for inhalation/exhalation to occur.

What is Boyle’s Law? It is the physical law that states that the volume of a space in which air is contained and air pressure have an inverse relationship, i.e. the more volume the space has, the less air pressure there will be and vice versa.

Expansion                  causes                  air to flow into the lungs; expansion is never the               effect                      of air entering the lungs.

Describe the lungs. The lungs are made of porous, spongy material. Each lung is separated into lobes (the right lung has three, the left lung has two). When air comes to the lungs through the trachea it is sent through bronchial tubes and eventually travels to alveolar sacs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

                 

Describe the bronchial tree. The trachea splits into two bronchial tubes and then further divides into lobar bronchi, which insert into the individual lobes of each lung.

Describe the aveolar sacs and their function. They are highly compressible and are chiefly responsible for the elasticity of lung tissue. Their function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

Describe the central tendon of the diaphragm. The central tendon is a strong, fibrous portion of the diaphragm that looks like a boomerang and serves as the origin for all muscle fibers extending from the diaphragm. 

How does the range of motion of the diaphragm vary between quiet breathing and deep breathing? During quiet breathing the range of motion for the diaphragm is about 1 1/2 cm, whereas in deep breathing there can be a range of motion as much as 6 or 7 cm.  

How much air is drawn into the lungs in a deep breath? About 2 1/2 liters

 What are the four principal methods of breath management? clavicular, thoracic, abdominal, and balanced

According to McKinney (quoted here), what is the difference between breath support and breath control? Breath support is described as the dynamic relationship between the muscles of inspiration and expiration that are used to control pressure in the air supplied to the larynx, therefore a pulmonary function. Breath control, on the other hand is a laryngeal function.

What are the problems with clavicular breathing for singing? Clavicular breathing offers few opportunities to establish an antagonistic relationship between muscles, which makes adjustment of the pressure of the air powering the vocal folds possible.