Your Voice : fn Inside View Captor: Phonan Sat Me Loy The One-Mass model is superior to the aerodynamic model, but still doesn't account for every- thing that is observed during vocal fold vibration. Because each vocal fold is viewed as a single mass that oscillates uniformly, the asymmetrical opening (vertical phase difference) of the glot- tis, which is clearly visibly during stroboscopic and high speed imaging, remains unexplained / ‘The Three-Mass Model Further improvements are made to oscillation theory by describ- — ing the vocal folds as three interconnected masses. In this mod- el, the body of the vocal fold (thyroarytenoid muscle) is the first ' and largest mass. The upper and lower portions of the cover cometgnt ge (lamina propria and epithelium) comprise two smaller masses. In this model, the glottis opens and closes asymmetrically with ver- tical phase difference from bottom to top. Air pressure also is asymmetrical, increasing when the glottis is in a convergent shape (bottoms of the two folds are farther apart from each oth- er), and decreasing when the glottis is divergent (tops of the two ' folds are farther apart) (Figure 8-4). This asymmetry of air pres- ‘svergent lis ‘sure provided by the three-mass model, combined with the im- pact of pressure changes above the glotis caused by inertia, iS Figure a-4:Glotal conaurations sufficient to sustain vocal fold oscillation.”* From the fringe... While myoelastic/aerodynamic theory and the subsequent one and thrae-mass models domi- nate current voice seiénce, they are not the only explanations of vocal fold oscillation that have been promoted, Raoul Husson (1901-67), a French scientist and voice enthusiast, developed \@ neurochronaxic theory. Husson believed that nerve impulses from the brain Structural Anatomy Laryngeal Framework—Meet the “Oids” To this point in the chapter, we have been look- youd bone ing at vocal folds as independent entities ab- stractly fixed somewhere in space. This is not, of course, the case. The vocal folds are enclosed within the structural framework of the larynx, 2 complex biological device composed of bone, —thyoid cartilage, membranes, ligaments, and muscles. cartage In the average adult male, the entire larynx is no larger than the size of a typical English walnut. In women, it is about 40% smaller—perhaps eer analogous to the size of a pecan. Take a mo- ment to find your own larynx in your neck. It might be large and prominent, as often is the - case in tall, slender males, or it might be so Figure 8-5: Laryngeat framework (anteri small that you barely can see or feel it in your intevier ham + view) * The three-mass model is not the final slep in describing the vocal folds. The National Center for Voice and Speoch ‘website reports that researchers al the University of lowa now base thelr computer simulations of vocal fld oscil lion on 16-mass models Page 107Your Voice: An Inside View neck. Use your thumb and fingers to gently palpate it, noting its size, lumps and bumps. You need not be squeamish—you won't hurt yourself The larynx is suspended from the hyoid, a wishbone-shaped bone that is located in the anterior neck, just below the jaw (Figure 8-5). Because the hyoid has no joint connecting it to the skele- ton, it enjoys substantial freedom of movement. (The only other bones in the body that have no skeletal connections are the patellae or kneecaps.) Find your own hyoid bone by again palpat- ing your larynx. It is located about a finger’s width above the largest part of the larynx and will feel like a litle ridge. Notice that as you swallow, the hyoid and larynx ascend a litle; if you yawn, they probably will descend. Because the larynx is attached to the hyoid, any movement of that bone is transferred to the larynx, Palecanthropologists believe this freedom of movement was a crucial evolutionary step in the development of language; without it, the articulations re- quired for speech are impossible. The hyoid bone also is the attachment point for the base of the tongue, several muscles of the jaw, and several muscles that are important for swallowing. Unfortunately, this situation can lead to technical problems for singers. Many structures important in singing share attachments to the hyoid bone; improper postures and tensions therefore easily are transferred from one location to another. This is particularly true of jaw and tongue tensions, which are passed directly down to the larynx. Five cartilages form the basic laryngeal framework (Figure 8-6, 8/9). The largest of these is called the thyroid cartilage”, Which is shaped somewhat like a shield. You will note that several laryngeal struc- tures have the suffix -oid in their names. This is an anatomical suffix indicating “lke,” just as the word ovoid means like superior hor \ tyrois an oval. In the case of the thyroid carti- lage, the name comes from the Greek word for a shield and literally means caitioge é aera shield-tke. cartiages When you palpate your larynx, the thy- casera roid cartilage is the largest structure you cvs feel. It has a small notch at its anterior, superior point, which varies in promi- ence from person to person. The ante- § rior attachment point of the vocal folds is a = located slightly below this notch, @ loca- Figure 8-6: Laryngeal framowok (posterior view) tion called the anterior commissure. Two projections called the superior horns or cornu extend upward from the posterior of the cartilage and connect through a ligamentous capsule to the hyoid bone. Two additional projections called the inferior horns extend downward to altach to the cricoid cartilage below (8/10). trachea The cricoid is the second largest laryngeal cartilage and the only one to form a complete circle. Its shape is often compared to that of a signet ring, with one side considerably wider than the other; in this case, the wide portion is at the posterior (8/9). The cricold is attached to the inferior The thyroid gland wraps around the base of the larynx like a pait of wings; the gland is named for its proximity to the cartilage, not the other way around. Because most discussions about thyroid issues focus on the gland, its m= portant to clearly state that you are talking about the thyroid cartilage when addressing laryngeal physiology. Page 108Chapter 8: Phonation horns of the thyroid cartilage through synovial joints, which allow the cartilages to both pivot and slide in position relative to each other. The importance of this movement becomes apparent when the next cartilages are set in place, the arytenoids. Two arytenoid cartilages sit atop the posterior, superior surface of the cricoid. They are shaped rather like malformed pyramids with a triangular base and a top that droops toward the side like an els hat (8/9). Synovial joints connect the arytenoids to the cricoid, permitting them to rotate on its surface and to slide together and apart. The arytenoids are the posterior point of attach- ment for the true vocal folds as well as connecting points for all the muscles that open and close the glottis. Aleaf-shaped cartilage called the epigiottis is found at the top of the larynx. Attached to the in- side of the thyroid cartilage just below the notch, it folds over during swallowing to direct the bo- lus (chewed material that is swallowed) info the esophagus, preventing it from going down the airway. The final laryngeal connection is to the trachea, also known as the windpipe, which is composed of a series of incomplete cartilaginous rings that are held together and closed in the posterior by @ membrane. This structure gives the trachea great flexibility, allowing it to be distended, com- pressed or even gently twisted. In this regard, it somewhat resembles the flexible tubing that is used to vent clothes dryers. The trachea descends into the thorax where it bifurcates (divides) at a location called the carina into the two bronchial tubes, which further divide into the lobar bronchi for insertion into the lungs. {n addition to the membranous portion of the trachea, several membranes and ligaments are found within the larynx. Just as its name implies, the thyrohyoid membrane is located in the area between the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone. Its purpose is to link the two structures, providing a seal and preventing excess movement. Two small holes are found toward the sides of this membrane through which pass one pair of the nerves that serve the larynx (8/11), Both a membrane and ligament are located in the anterior space between the cricoid and thy- ‘oid cartilages, labeled, of course, cricothyroid. Their function is similar to that of the thyrohyoid membrane. An additional membrane is found lining the inside of the cricoid cartilage called the conus elasticus, which strengthens the underside of the vocal folds and seals them to the air- way below. ‘An important structure called the aryepiglottic folds found atthe top of the larynx, whichis 2 oy nna temately called the laryngeal collar or the epifar- a ynx (Figure 8-7). This region is formed of mus- cle and tissue that encapsulates the epigiottis and arytenoids, helping to pull the epiglottis down to cover the airway for swallowing. As we have previously learned, the epilarynx plays an important role in vocal resonance and is the probable source of the singer's formant. The pi- fiform sinus makes another important contribu- tion to resonance, helping to attenuate frequen- cies beyond 4kHz (Chapter 3). epigtois (euroundes by tissue) Finally, the previously mentioned vocal liga- ments extend from the thyroid cartilage at the anterior commissure to insert into the arytenoid carfilages at the vocal processes (Figure 8-8, 8/9). Page 109,