Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Flashcards

Which cranial nerve provides primary motor innervation to the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer: CN XII (Hypoglossal)

The hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) supplies motor innervation to all intrinsic and most extrinsic muscles of the tongue, enabling precise articulatory movements.

The true vocal folds attach anteriorly to the thyroid cartilage and posteriorly to which structures?

Answer: Arytenoid cartilages

The true vocal folds span from the anterior thyroid cartilage to the vocal processes of the paired arytenoid cartilages posteriorly.

Which structure is primarily responsible for velopharyngeal closure during the production of oral consonants?

Answer: Velum (soft palate)

The velum elevates and retracts to contact the posterior pharyngeal wall, sealing the nasopharynx and preventing nasal airflow during oral speech sounds.

The Eustachian (auditory) tube connects the middle ear space to which anatomical region?

Answer: Nasopharynx

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, allowing pressure equalization and mucociliary drainage of middle ear secretions.

Which is the primary muscle of inhalation that powers respiratory support for speech?

Answer: Diaphragm

The diaphragm contracts and descends during inhalation, increasing thoracic volume and lowering intrapulmonic pressure to draw air into the lungs.

The basilar membrane within the cochlea performs which critical function?

Answer: Frequency (tonotopic) analysis of incoming sound

The basilar membrane is tonotopically organized, with high frequencies maximally displacing the basal end and low frequencies displacing the apical end.

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the true vocal folds?

Answer: Generating resonance in the vocal tract

Resonance occurs supraglottically in the pharyngeal, oral, and nasal cavities; the vocal folds produce the sound source but do not function as a resonating cavity.