Speech Mechanisms

Pleural linkage: lungs increase volume during inhalation and decrease during exhalation

Alveolar pressure: pressure within the lungs

Subglottal air pressure: pressure below the vocal folds

Extrinsic muscles of the larynx: have at least one attachment outside the larynx 

• support and anchor the larynx ​

Intrinsic muscles of the larynx: both attachments within the larynx

• control during voice production​

Adduct: close

• ​the lateral cricoarytenoid and the interarytenoid muscles adduct the vocal folds

Abduct: open

• ​the posterior cricoarytenoid abduct the vocal folds

Fundamental frequency:  average number of glottal openings per second

• ​average for males: 120 - 145 cycles per second

• average for females: 200 - 260 cycles per second

Timbre: the tonal quality which distinguishes two sounds of the same pitch, loudness and duration

Vocal tract: all speech-related systems above the vocal folds

Pharyngeal cavity: a muscular and membranous tube-like structure that extends from the epiglottis to the soft palate

Oral cavity: extends from the lips to the soft palate

Nasal cavities: two chambers that begin at the soft palate and end at the outside portion of the nostrils

Resonance: selective reinforcement and absorption of sound energy at specific frequencies

Velopharyngeal mechanism: the structures and muscles of the velum and pharyngeal walls

Velopharyngeal port: the passage that connects the oropharynx and the nasopharynx.

Alveolar ridge: prominent ridge-like structure located behind the front teeth