What is laryngeal inefficiency?

Aspiration occurs when the normal protective reflexes of the larynx are defective (Laryngeal incompetence). It is often associated with hoarseness and cricopharyngeal malfunction with swallowing problems.

What is abduction of the vocal cords?

Abduction: The vocal folds abduct (come apart) in order to let air in and out of the lungs during breathing. Adduction: The vocal folds may adduct (come together) to trap air in the lungs. They may also adduct to vibrate to produce vocal sound.

What is the main anatomical purpose of the vocal folds?

Briefly, the vocal folds are folds of tissue located in the larynx (voicebox) that have three important functions: To protect the airway from choking on material in the throat. To regulate the flow of air into our lungs. The production of sounds used for speech.

What muscles are used for adduction of vocal folds?

The muscles, lateral cricoarytenoid, thyroarytenoid, interarytenoid, and cricothyroid, all act together to adduct the vocal folds.

What is superior laryngeal nerve?

The superior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve, innervates the cricothyroid muscle of the larynx. This muscle stretches, tenses, and adducts the vocal cord. Superior laryngeal neuralgia usually appears as a postsurgical complication.

What does abduct and adduct mean?

Abduction and adduction are terms that refer to certain body motions or movements. With abduction, limbs (arms, legs or fingers) are moved away from your body’s midline. Adduction, however, refers to moving your limbs closer to the midline.

What are vocal folds attached to?

arytenoid cartilages
The vocal cords are composed of mucous membrane infoldings that stretch horizontally across the middle laryngeal cavity. They are attached anteriorly at the angle on the interior surface of the thyroid cartilage and project posteriorly to the arytenoid cartilages on either side.

What are the vocal folds made up of?

The vocal folds are a pair of rubber band-like tissues located in your larynx (voice box) directly above the windpipe (trachea). They’re made of up several layers of cells, including muscle and an elastic layer, known as the mucosa.

Which muscle is responsible for vocal fold relaxation?

thyroarytenoid muscle
The thyroarytenoid muscle acts to relax the vocal ligament, allowing for a softer voice. Attachments: Originates from the inferoposterior aspect of the angle of the thyroid cartilage, and attaches to the anterolateral part of the arytenoid cartilage.

Which muscles relax the vocal folds?

The cricothyroid muscles are responsible for tensing the vocal cords whilst the thyroarytenoid muscles and the vocalis muscles are responsible for relaxing them.

What muscles change the tension of the vocal folds?

Vocal ligament: The vocal ligament is composed of:Body: The vocal fold body is composed of the thyroarytenoid muscle. This muscle helps close the glottis and regulate tension of vocal fold during speaking and/or singing. The medial portion of this muscle is also called “vocalis muscle.”