Anatomy & Physiology of Speech

Speech Production is accomplished via three systems

Respiratory system Laryngeal system Articulatory system

Respiratory system
Power (energy) source for speech Components
Lungs Bronchi (mainstem & divisions) Trachea Intercostal muscles Diaphragm Ribs

Process of Inspiration
Lungs expand via inspiratory muscle contraction Air drawn through various cavities
Oral or Nasal Pharyngeal Laryngeal Tracheal Bronchial Lungs

Process of Inspiration cont.

External intercostals and diaphragm are inspiratory muscles. Both cause the lungs to expand when contracted Internal intercostals are expiratory muscles.
Pull the lungs back inward

Using Air for Speech

Once air is captured in the lungs, we control expiration so that air is released slowly rather than all at once. The release (expiration) of air is controlled by muscular checking actions.

Using Air for Speech cont.

To talk loudly, you need increased air support. To talk softly, you dont need as much air support. Talking loudly requires greater expenditure of air.

Laryngeal System
Provides the vibratory source (phonation) for speech. Phonation takes place in the larynx The larynx is:
Made up of cartilage, muscle, & other tissue Houses the vocal folds Is larger in males than females

Larynx
Primary Cartilages
Thyroid
Biggest cartilage Front attachment for vocal folds Moveable

Cricoid
Stationary cartilage Provides a platform for the arytenoids Location of joint for thyroid movement

Larynx cont.
Arytenoids
Paired (2) cartilage Moveable Back attachment for vocal folds Point of attachment for muscles that open & close the vocal folds

Larynx cont.
The vocal folds
Left & right Vibrated by air Bigger in males than in females Produce a spectrum of frequencies

Larynx cont.
To initiate phonation
Air is release upward towards the vocal folds The vocal folds close with force known as medial compression The vocal folds block the upcoming air stream, and subglottal pressure builds up When pressure is built up enough, the air blows the vocal folds apart.

Larynx cont.
Elasticity and the Bernoulli effect brings the vocal folds folds back together Air then blows them apart again Process is repeated as long as air is being expired by the respiratory system and the vocal folds are in a closed position

Larynx cont.
The average rate of vocal fold vibration is called the fundamental frequency (Fo) Fo is measured in Hertz, which calculates the number of cycles (closed-open-close) that occur in one second The average male Fo is 125 Hz The average female Fo is 225Hz

Larynx cont.
We experience frequency as pitch, so we can say that pitch is the psychological correlate of frequency. We experience the intensity of the voice signal as loudness, so we can say that loudness is the psychological correlate of intensity.

Larynx cont.
To change the frequency and intensity of the voice, we use our laryngeal and respiratory muscles dynamically during speech production.

Larynx cont.
When we are infants, everyones Fo is at its highest. Fo decreases through childhood, especially after puberty Fo stabilizes in adulthood Fo increases slightly in old age

Larynx cont.
The vocal folds produce a spectrum of sound, and that sound source is resonated in the vocal tract. Everyone has a voice identifiable with them because of the way in which the source is resonated

Larynx cont.
Vocal tract resonance adds timbre to the voice. Everyone has a unique timbre, in addition to the fundamental frequency and method in which they articulate the sound This gives everyone their own identifiable voice.

Articulatory System
Articulatory system used for speech, chewing, swallowing, and filtering inspired air. Contains 3 cavities
Pharyngeal Oral Nasal

Articulatory system cont.

Pharyngeal cavity (pharynx) is a muscular tube formed by the pharyngeal walls and tongue base. Separated into 3 divisions:
Nasopharynx Oropharynx Laryngopharynx

Articulatory System, cont.

Oral and Nasal cavities are separated by the hard & soft palates. Hard palate is made of bone and is stationary. Soft palate is made of muscle and is moveable.
Can open or close nasal cavity

Articulatory System cont.

The articulatory system is also referred to as the vocal tract, and involves both articulation and resonance. Articulators = structures that perform movements
Lips Jaw Tongue Pharyngeal Walls Soft Palate

Articulatory System, cont.

There are also fixed structures which the articulators communicate with during speech, including:
Hard palate Alveolar ridge Teeth

Neural Control
Every system related to speech is controlled by the nervous system. The building block of the nervous system is the neuron. Every neuron has 3 parts:
Cell body Dendrites Axon

Neural Control cont.

2 Gross Divisions
Central Nervous System
Brain & Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves leaving the CNS to communicate with muscles, glands, and sensory receptors.

Neural Control cont.

The Brain
Divided into the cerebral hemispheres (left & right) Each hemisphere covered by cortex (grey matter), underneath which is white matter Brain connected to the spinal cord by the brainstem.

Neural Control cont.

Brainstem is divided into:
Midbrain Pons Medulla

The brainstem controls basic life functions such as respiration, temperature regulation, and appetite.

Neural Control cont.

Spinal cord
Runs through center of spinal column Has gray matter in the middle, which is shaped like an H. Sensory nerves run at the back part of the H (dorsal horns) Motor nerves run at the front part of the H (ventral horns)

Neural Control cont.

For most right handed individuals, the left hemisphere controls most language functions. This is known as lateralization Many left-handed individuals have also have left hemisphere lateralization for language, but not as many as righthanders

Neural Control cont.

Language control is also localized to certain areas within the left hemisphere.
Wernickes Area = language comprehension Brocas Area = language expression

Contralateral innveration
The right side of the brain controls muscles and sensory receptors on the left side of the body, and vice-versa