Vocal pedagogy

Articulatory anatomy

Filter Every structure in the vocal tract above

the vocal folds acts in some way as a filter for the sound produced at the glottis.

Structures may change the shape of the tract or act as resonators for the sound

These factors make the voice individual.

Cranial bones Cranial bones cover the brain and give

protection. They may appear solid ut many have air filled cavities called sinuses.

Sinuses have poor blood, nerve and vascular supply. They are common sites for infection. Mucous from the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary sinuses drain into the nasal cavities

Sphenoid and ethmoid bones These are central to the skull The ethmoid lies directly inform of the

sphenoid The sphenoid is associated with the

functions of sight, hearing and smell

Sphenoid bone

Ethmoid bone

Mandible U shaped bone which forms the lower

jaw Only movable bone in the facial

skeleton Many muscle attach to it Articulates with the cranium at the

temporomandibular joint TMJ allows opening/closing, sideto side

and front/back movement of jaw for speech, chewing and facial expression

Mandible

Maxilla Forms the upper jaw, roof of the

mouth, lateral walls of the nose, part of eye sockets and attachment of upper teeth

The maxillary sinuses are the largest of the cranial and facial sinuses

Maxilla

Velo-pharyngeal port Passage between the oropharynx

and the nasopharynx. Controlled by the muscles of the

velum/soft palate which are all considered extrinsic except the muscle of the uvula

Muscles of palatal movement

Elevators Levator veli palatini (from temporal

bone) Musculus uvulae (NB uvula itself has

very few muscle fibres) Depressors

Palatoglossus (anterior faucial pillar) can lower palate or left tongue

Palatopharyngeus (posterior faucial pillar) 4 functions relating to swallowing

Muscles of palatal movement Tensors

Tensor veli Palatini- dilates the eustacian tube and tenses and flattens the soft palate

Tongue The tongue is used for chewing

and swallowing but has also been developed for speech

It can depress, flatten, extend/retract, curl sides and curl tip.

With each change in shape there is a change in the acoustic characteristics of the vocal tract.

Divisions of tongue

Intrinsic muscle of tongue Superior longitudinal

Elevates, assists retraction, moves tip Inferior longitudinal

Pulls tip down, assist retraction Transverse

Pulls side edges to midline Vertical

flattens

Intrinsic muscle of tongue

Extrinsic muscle of tongue Genioglossus

Retract, protudes,depresses Styloglossus

Raises tongue tip up and back Hyoglossus

Pulls sides down and back Palatoglossus/glossopalatine

Lowers palate or elevates base of tongue

Extrinsic muscle of tongue

Muscle of face Contribute to facial expression,

chewing and articulation Greatest affect on vocal tract is the

movement of the lips Interaction with nearly a dozen

other paired muscles gives rise to a wide range if movements

Muscle of face

Muscles of pharynx Important in swallowing Affect the filter/shape of vocal

tract and velo-pharyngeal opening Three fan shaped constrictors

Muscles of pharynx

Oral and Pharyngeal cavity