Laryngeal and Pharyngeal Function Quiz

The movement of air out of the lungs during exhalation.

The movement of air into the lungs during inhalation.

The pressure within the esophagus, often used to measure breathing.

Direct stimulation of the larynx (voice box).

Slow heart rate.

Low blood pressure.

A nerve involved in cardiovascular responses triggered by laryngeal stimulation.

The process of opening the oropharyngeal passage, primarily achieved by contracting palatoglossal muscles, bringing together faucial arches, and lifting the base of the tongue.

Breathing through the nose with exertion. The oropharyngeal activation is the highest during this.

Stimulating the larynx can change heart rate and blood pressure.

Insertion of a tube through the trachea into the lungs during general anaesthesia to provide breathing support.

Limited information is known about how these muscles function during respiration during general anesthesia.

Blocking the upper airway (e.g., breathing blockage).

Cutting the nerve, which directly impacts blood pressure.

Intraesophageal Pressure (Pes) shows the effort needed for respiration.

Measurement of electrical activity in muscles, particularly diaphragm and posterior cricoarytenoid.

Vocal fold vibration isn't uniform; it's a three-dimensional process varying with pitch and vocal register.

The vocal fold's vibration involves the mucosa (cover) vibrating differently than the underlying tissue (body).

The vibration starts at the bottom middle of the vocal fold and moves upward.

A model explaining the timing relationship between the upper and lower vocal fold edges during vibration.

The opening of the vocal folds during phonation.

Airflow through the glottis creates lower pressure at the lower edge of the vocal folds.

The lower-middle part of the vocal fold.

Toward the front of the vocal folds.

Different voice qualities (e.g., chest voice, head voice) associated with varying vibration patterns.

Pressure in the trachea, which affects vocal fold vibration.

The shape of the glottis (voice box opening) changes when we produce different vowel sounds, implying a more complex role of the larynx in speech than previously thought.

Auditory feedback plays a vital role in speech control, especially during learning. It's crucial for developing proper pronunciation and understanding how our speech sounds.

The brain has separate pathways for controlling speech and other learned vocalizations (like singing) compared to spontaneous sounds.

Direct connections from the brain's cortex to the nucleus ambiguus (which controls vocal muscles) are essential for learned vocalizations, like speech, and are unique to humans.

Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) significantly affects the organization of laryngeal motor neurons, making full recovery from speech impairment challenging.

A natural process of exhaling air that doesn't require effort. It's sufficient for normal conversation.

Exhaling air using muscles for a stronger and controlled release, needed for tasks like singing or shouting.

The amount of air we need to power our voice. Normal speaking requires less than shouting or singing.

Outdated theory, stating that nerve impulses directly controlled vocal fold vibrations, which isn't supported by evidence.

The accepted theory explaining how our vocal cords vibrate by combining muscle tension and airflow.

A voice disorder where the voice isn't working properly, but the physical structure is fine. May be caused by stress.

A voice disorder caused by physical problems in the vocal folds or breathing system.

Learning to use your breath and voice effectively to improve vocal power and control.

There are five key factors that have to work together for healthy voice production, including breath control and vocal fold closure.

Proper breathing technique is crucial for strong voice output and minimizing vocal strain.