Jake Malde Chapter 4

What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal muscles?  What are their functions? Intrinsic muscles have both connections within the larynx and cause movement within the larynx. Extrinsic muscles have one connection to the larynx and one located elsewhere. Intrinsic muscles move the parts of the larynx like the arytenoids or the cricoid cartilage. External muscles adjust the position of the larynx by elevating it or depressing it.

Describe the cartilages of the larynx.  Include information about structure, size, function. The cricoid cartilage is shaped like a ring and sits at the bottom of the larynx, connecting to the trachea below. The hole in the middle is 9-21 mm. The thick side faces the back, and the smaller side faces forward. The thyroid cartilage is the adam's apple. It is open at the back, while the front looks like a big shield. The edges wrap 2/3rds of the way around the larynx. Two horns extend from the top of the thyroid, from which ligaments extend and connect to the hyoid bone. Two horns extend down to connect to the cricoid cartilage.  Two small cartilages called the arytenoid cartilages perch on top of the back of the cricoid cartilage. They are triangle shaped and are connected with a flexible joint so that they can move swivel and slide. 

What is cartilage? an elastic tissue 

What is ligament? connects muscle to bone

What is muscle origin? The spot where the muscle attaches to bone.

What is muscle insertion? The point of attachment of a muscle that moves the most during contraction.

What is dynamic equilibrium? When opposing muscles work together

What is muscle antagonism? co-contraction

What are opposing muscles? Muscle groups that pull in opposite directions 

What are paired muscles? muscles that we have on both sides of the body, like the muscles in both arms, legs. 

What is stabilized physiological tremor rate? The rate of vibration innate to the body that occurs when muscles antagonism is sustained.

Describe the following muscles (location and function)
1.  posterior cricoarytenoid goes from the back of the cricoid up to the arytenoid cartilage and causes them to separate, opening the vocal folds.
2.  lateral cricoarytenoid Go from the sides of the cricoid up to the arytenoids and open them further for singing breath.
3.  transverse arytenoid stretches from the arytenoids forward to the thyroid cartilage. These contract and adduct the vocal cords. 
4.  oblique arytenoid go from the arytenoids across the cricoid, creating an x in the back of the cricoid.Contraction aids in adduction, though I'm a little bit fuzzy about their movements.

What are the two parts of the Thyroarytenoid muscle?  What are their functions?The external  thyroarytenoid muscle and the vocalis muscle. The vocalis muscles contract and come closer together.  The thyroaritenoid muscle contracts and shortens and thickens the vocal folds.

What are the two parts of the Cricothyroid muscle?  What are their functions?  What are their attachments? right and left cricothyroid muscles. They pull the thyroid forward and down, elongating the vocal folds. attach at the bottom of the thyroid.

How is pitch determined? vibration rate

What happens as we descend in pitch? Vocal folds get shorter and thicker

Summarize the activities of the 3 laryngeal muscles responsible for pitch.The cricothyroid muscle makes the vocal folds longer, thinner, and tenser and raises the pitch.The external TA muscle makes the vocal cords shorter, thicker, and looser and lowers the pitch. The vocalis muscle adds tension to the vocal folds and raises the pitch. 

Define register.  (What happens at the laryngeal level?) the vocal folds make up how each register works 

Name and describe the 4 registers of the voice.  (Please include the subdivisions of modal.)
-Modal voice: where we do most our singing. Involves the action of both the CT and TA. Modal voice is subdivided into chest voice and head voice. Most singers mix the two. 
-falsetto/flute: when the TA muscle finally releases and the CT alone is contracted.
-whistle: the back portion of the vocal folds are damped, shortening the vibrating edge and creating an extremely high register.
-glottal fry: disengaging the CT completely and creating a rattling noise as the vocal folds release and hang heavy. 

How does heavy vs light differ from loud vs soft? timbre 

What are the 3 possible types of onset/offset.  Describe them.
Glottal: the vocal folds are pressed together before airflow reaches them. When the air separates them it makes a small click sound. 
Aspirate: air escapes the glottis before it closes completely, creating a "h" before the sound. 
Balanced: the air meets the glottis while the vocal folds are closing. 

How do the vocal folds come into vibration? The air comes up to the vocal folds from below and cause them to vibrate. The pressure builds up beneath the folds until they open, and then they come back into place because of the Bernoulli principal and the elastic recoil of the muscles. 

What causes a breathy sound? Vocal folds don't adduct properly. 

What causes a strident sound? having the chest too high

What causes a tight sound? Tension, wherever it may be

What does the larynx have to do with dynamics? The Larynx controls the rate of the air. 

How can intonation be fixed? practice??

What causes vibrato? When the muscles in the larynx work together properly

How can vibrato be controlled? it shouldn't be controlled, it should just happen. 

What are nodules and how can they be prevented? Calluses on the epithelium membrane on the vocal cords. You have to know your voice, don't overwork, have good technique