CCC CCC ASHA Anatomy & Physiology of Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which muscle is the primary muscle of inspiration during quiet breathing?
- Diaphragm (Correct answer)
- External intercostals
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Scalenes
Correct answer: Diaphragm
The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration, contracting to increase the vertical dimension of the thoracic cavity during quiet breathing.
Question 2: The vocal folds are housed within which structure of the larynx?
- Epiglottis
- Thyroid cartilage (Correct answer)
- Cricoid cartilage
- Arytenoid cartilages
Correct answer: Thyroid cartilage
The thyroid cartilage forms the anterior and lateral walls of the larynx and is the structure within which the vocal folds are situated.
Question 3: According to the myoelastic-aerodynamic theory of phonation, what initiates vocal fold opening?
- Active muscle contraction pulling folds apart
- Subglottal air pressure overcoming medial compression (Correct answer)
- Supraglottal negative pressure
- Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle activation
Correct answer: Subglottal air pressure overcoming medial compression
Subglottal air pressure builds beneath the closed vocal folds until it overcomes medial compression, pushing the folds apart to initiate the vibratory cycle.
Question 4: Which cranial nerve provides primary motor innervation to the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
- CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
- CN X (Vagus) via the recurrent laryngeal branch (Correct answer)
- CN VII (Facial)
- CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct answer: CN X (Vagus) via the recurrent laryngeal branch
The recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of CN X (Vagus), provides motor innervation to all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid, which is served by the superior laryngeal nerve.
Question 5: The velopharyngeal mechanism primarily functions to separate which two cavities during speech?
- Oral and nasal cavities (Correct answer)
- Nasal and pharyngeal cavities
- Oral and pharyngeal cavities
- Laryngeal and pharyngeal cavities
Correct answer: Oral and nasal cavities
The velopharyngeal valve separates the oral and nasal cavities, preventing unwanted nasal resonance during non-nasal phonemes.
Question 6: The hyoid bone is unique because it is the only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone. Which structure does NOT attach directly to the hyoid?
- Tongue muscles
- Laryngeal cartilages via extrinsic muscles
- Pharyngeal constrictors
- Epiglottis directly via its cartilage (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Epiglottis directly via its cartilage
The epiglottis does not attach directly to the hyoid via its cartilage; it is connected via the hyoepiglottic ligament and surrounding soft tissue, not a direct cartilaginous articulation.
Question 7: Which subdivision of the pharynx lies posterior to the nasal cavity and superior to the soft palate?
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
- Nasopharynx (Correct answer)
- Hypopharynx
Correct answer: Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx is the uppermost portion of the pharynx, lying posterior to the nasal cavity and superior to the soft palate.
CCC CCC ASHA Anatomy & Physiology of Communication 1
Which muscle is the primary muscle of inspiration during quiet breathing?