What Is The Phonation System?

869 Words2 Pages

The various cartilages, muscles, ligaments, and the hyoid bone in the laryngeal skeleton each have their own specific structure and critical role in the performance of the entire phonation system. The collection of parts that comprises the phonation system interacts to form a common purpose. However, similar to how various parts within this system work together to support itself, these parts also interact with another system of the body for the purpose of receiving and giving necessary support for functioning. The respiration system has a supportive relationship with that of the phonation system, where if certain structures were not working correctly within either system, function of not only that system but the other as well would be critically …show more content…

In addition, the remaining three cartilages are elastic and namely are the epiglottis, corniculate, and cuneiform cartilages (Abruscato, 2015). Also, there are numerous muscles that are involved within the phonation system. These can be broken down into two categories, namely intrinsic and extrinsic. Research by Abruscato (2015) also supports that the intrinsic muscles include the adductors, namely the lateral cricoarytenoid, transverse arytenoid, and the oblique arytenoid. The auxiliary muscles include the thyroeppigottic muscle, superior thryoarytenoid and the aryepiglottic muscle. The thyrovocalis, and the cricothyroid are tensor muscles, while the lateral thryoarytenoid exists as a relaxer. In addition, the posterior cricoarytenoid is and abductor muscle. The extrinsic muscles may be separated into depressor and elevator categories. The extrinsic elevators include the stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, genioglossus, hyoglossus, inferior pharyngeal constrictor and the digastricus anterior and posterior. Extrinsic depressors include the sternohyoid, omnohyoid, sternothyroid, and the thyrohyoid (Abruscato, 2015). In conclusion, all of these muscles connect one or more of the previously mentioned cartilages within this …show more content…

Of the hyaline cartilages, the thyroid is the largest. It can be understood that the thyroid serves multiple purposes, and with respect towards the speech system, this cartilage allows for articulation with the cricoid as it allows for the connection to the hyoid bone. It acts as the point of attachment for the thyrohyoid for elevation for speech and swallowing to occur. The cricoid serves a purpose as a point of attachment for the cricoarytenoid. The last and only paired hyaline cartilage, the arytenoid cartilage, contributes vastly to the speech system as it articulates at its apex with the corniculate cartilage as well as with the cricoid cartilage at its base. Its vocal process serves an important role as the point of origin for the vocal ligament. Furthermore, of the three elastic cartilages, the epiglottis serves and extremely important and crucial role for the phonation system. This cartilage closes the opening connecting the larynx and pharynx so food or unwarranted substances doesn't enter the lungs. As one swallows, the epiglottis closes protecting our esophagus from having to encounter substances. Lastly, the corniculate and cuneiform cartilages are the only paired elastic cartilages. The corniculate cartilage serves a major role of articulation with the arytenoids so then the vocal cords may function for speech. Clearly each

Open Document