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Vocal folds are located horizontally within the larynx, stretching from the back to the front.
Answer: True
Explanation: Anatomically, the vocal folds are situated horizontally within the larynx, extending anteriorly from the arytenoid cartilages to the thyroid cartilage.
The 'false vocal folds,' or vestibular folds, play a critical role in normal voice production.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'true vocal folds' are the primary structures for normal voice production; the 'false vocal folds' (vestibular folds) have a minimal role in typical phonation.
The lamina propria of adult vocal folds is composed of a single, uniform layer.
Answer: False
Explanation: The adult lamina propria is differentiated into three distinct layers: superficial, intermediate, and deep, each with varying compositions of elastic and collagenous fibers.
Vocal folds attach to the cricoid cartilage at the front and the arytenoid cartilages at the back.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vocal folds attach to the arytenoid cartilages posteriorly and the thyroid cartilage anteriorly, not the cricoid cartilage at the front.
The vocalis muscle is part of the deepest layer of the vocal fold structure.
Answer: True
Explanation: The vocalis muscle, which is part of the thyroarytenoid muscle, constitutes the bulk of the vocal fold and is considered the deepest layer.
Adult human vocal cords consist of only the epithelium and the vocalis muscle.
Answer: False
Explanation: Adult vocal folds are composed of multiple layers, including the epithelium, a three-layered lamina propria (superficial, intermediate, deep), and the vocalis muscle.
The intermediate and deep layers of the lamina propria in adults contain fewer elastic fibers than the superficial layer.
Answer: False
Explanation: The superficial layer (SLP) is rich in elastic fibers and is relatively loose, while the intermediate and deep layers contain more collagenous fibers, providing structure and resistance.
The vocalis muscle is located in the superficial portion of the vocal fold.
Answer: False
Explanation: The vocalis muscle forms the main body of the vocal fold and is situated in the deepest portion, not the superficial layer.
The maculae flavae are believed to primarily function in closing the vocal folds during breathing.
Answer: False
Explanation: The maculae flavae are thought to be involved in the growth, development, and aging of vocal folds, possibly by synthesizing fibrous components, rather than directly in closing folds during breathing.
The vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage serves as the posterior attachment point for the vocal folds.
Answer: True
Explanation: The vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage is indeed the posterior attachment site for the vocal folds.
The thyroarytenoid muscle is located outside the vocal fold and controls its external tension.
Answer: False
Explanation: The thyroarytenoid muscle, including its vocalis portion, is located within the vocal fold itself and contributes to its bulk and tension.
The glottis refers specifically to the opening between the vocal folds.
Answer: False
Explanation: The opening between the vocal folds is termed the rima glottidis; the glottis encompasses both the rima glottidis and the vocal folds themselves.
The cricoarytenoid joints allow for the tilting of the thyroid cartilage to adjust vocal fold tension.
Answer: False
Explanation: The cricothyroid joints facilitate the tilting of the thyroid cartilage, while the cricoarytenoid joints allow for the rotation and gliding of the arytenoid cartilages, which adjust vocal fold tension and position.
The superficial layer of the lamina propria in adults is characterized by a dense concentration of elastic fibers.
Answer: False
Explanation: The superficial layer of the lamina propria is relatively loose and contains fewer elastic fibers compared to the intermediate layer, contributing to its pliability.
Where are the vocal folds anatomically located?
Answer: Within the larynx, stretching horizontally across it.
Explanation: The vocal folds are situated within the larynx, extending horizontally from the anterior wall to the posterior arytenoid cartilages.
What distinguishes 'true' vocal folds from 'false' vocal folds?
Answer: True folds vibrate for normal voice production; false folds have a minimal role in normal voice but can be used for specific effects.
Explanation: The true vocal folds are the primary vibratory structures for voice production, whereas the false vocal folds (vestibular folds) have a limited role in typical phonation.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three distinct layers that form in the lamina propria of adult vocal folds?
Answer: Middle layer (MLP)
Explanation: The adult lamina propria is composed of the superficial layer (SLP), intermediate layer (ILP), and deep layer (DLP). There is no distinct 'middle layer' separate from these.
Which layer of the vocal fold is primarily composed of the vocalis and thyroarytenoid muscles?
Answer: The deepest portion
Explanation: The vocalis muscle, part of the thyroarytenoid muscle, forms the bulk of the vocal fold and constitutes its deepest layer.
The maculae flavae are located at the ends of the membranous parts of the vocal cords and are speculated to play a role in:
Answer: Synthesizing fibrous components related to growth and aging.
Explanation: The maculae flavae are hypothesized to contribute to the developmental and aging processes of the vocal folds through the synthesis of extracellular matrix components.
The superficial layer of the lamina propria (SLP) in adult vocal folds is known for being:
Answer: Looser and more pliable due to fewer fibers.
Explanation: The SLP is characterized by its loose structure and lower concentration of fibers, making it highly pliable and crucial for vocal fold vibration.
Vocal cords, also referred to as vocal folds, are primarily responsible for producing sounds through the vibration of throat tissues.
Answer: True
Explanation: Vocal folds are indeed the primary structures responsible for sound production, achieved through their vibration as air passes through them.
The length of vocal cords has no significant impact on the pitch of a voice.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vocal fold length is a critical determinant of vocal pitch; longer cords generally produce lower pitches, and shorter cords produce higher pitches.
Sound is generated when air pressure forces the vocal folds apart, creating a wave-like motion that chops airflow.
Answer: True
Explanation: The myoelastic-aerodynamic theory describes sound production as a result of subglottal pressure causing vocal fold vibration, which modulates airflow into discrete puffs, creating sound waves.
The fundamental frequency of sound is the sole determinant of a voice's perceived pitch.
Answer: False
Explanation: While fundamental frequency is the primary determinant of pitch, other factors like harmonics and resonance also contribute to the perceived quality and characteristics of a voice.
Adult males typically have a lower average fundamental frequency (around 125 Hz) than adult females (around 210 Hz).
Answer: True
Explanation: The average fundamental frequency for adult males is indeed lower (approx. 125 Hz) compared to adult females (approx. 210 Hz), largely due to differences in vocal fold length and mass.
Harmonics, which add richness to the voice, are produced by the complete relaxation of the vocal folds.
Answer: False
Explanation: Harmonics are produced by the complex vibratory patterns of the vocal folds and the resulting overtones, not by their complete relaxation.
Overtone singing allows singers to produce only the fundamental frequency, eliminating all harmonics.
Answer: False
Explanation: Overtone singing involves the manipulation and amplification of specific harmonics, not their elimination, allowing multiple pitches to be perceived simultaneously.
What is the primary function of vocal cords (vocal folds)?
Answer: To vibrate and modulate airflow from the lungs for sound production (phonation).
Explanation: The principal role of the vocal folds is to vibrate and shape the airflow from the lungs, thereby generating voice.
How does the length of vocal cords influence voice pitch?
Answer: Longer cords produce lower pitches, and shorter cords produce higher pitches.
Explanation: Vocal fold length is inversely proportional to pitch; longer folds vibrate slower, producing lower frequencies, while shorter folds vibrate faster, producing higher frequencies.
The average fundamental frequency for adult males is approximately:
Answer: 125 Hz
Explanation: The typical fundamental frequency range for adult males falls around 125 Hz, reflecting their longer and thicker vocal folds compared to females.
Overtone singing, or throat singing, involves:
Answer: Isolating and manipulating specific harmonics of the voice.
Explanation: Overtone singing is a technique that leverages the vocal tract's resonant properties to selectively amplify harmonics, creating the perception of multiple simultaneous pitches.
Vocal folds are approximately 6-8 millimeters long at birth and grow to 8-16 millimeters by adulthood.
Answer: True
Explanation: The dimensions of the vocal folds increase significantly from infancy to adulthood, with lengths progressing from approximately 6-8 mm at birth to 8-16 mm in adulthood.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) causes vocal folds to shorten and thin during puberty.
Answer: False
Explanation: During puberty, DHT contributes to the lengthening and thickening of vocal folds, particularly in males, leading to voice deepening, not shortening or thinning.
Adult males typically have shorter and thinner vocal folds compared to adult females.
Answer: False
Explanation: Adult males generally possess longer and thicker vocal folds than adult females, contributing to their typically lower vocal pitch.
Newborns possess a vocal ligament within their lamina propria, contributing to mature vocal function.
Answer: False
Explanation: Newborn vocal folds have a uniform lamina propria lacking a distinct vocal ligament; the ligament develops later in childhood.
The high hyaluronic acid content in newborns is hypothesized to enable prolonged crying.
Answer: True
Explanation: The abundance of hyaluronic acid in neonatal vocal folds is theorized to provide the necessary viscoelastic properties to withstand extended periods of crying without sustaining damage.
The vocal ligament begins to develop in children around the age of puberty.
Answer: False
Explanation: The vocal ligament begins to form in children around age four, well before puberty.
Children's vocal folds are structurally identical to adult vocal folds from birth.
Answer: False
Explanation: Children's vocal folds undergo significant structural development, transitioning from a simpler structure to the layered adult configuration, which impacts vocal characteristics.
During female puberty, sex hormones cause significant lengthening and thickening of the vocal folds, similar to males.
Answer: False
Explanation: While hormones influence female vocal folds during puberty, the changes are generally less pronounced than in males, with less significant lengthening and thickening.
Testosterone's effect on the male larynx during puberty includes the appearance of the Adam's apple and voice deepening.
Answer: True
Explanation: Testosterone significantly impacts the male larynx during puberty, leading to the growth of the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) and increased length and mass of the vocal folds, resulting in voice deepening.
Hormones have no discernible effect on vocal fold maturation or function.
Answer: False
Explanation: Hormones play a significant role in the maturation and ongoing function of vocal fold tissues, influencing their structure and biomechanical properties throughout life.
Hormonal imbalances, such as those during menopause, do not affect vocal fold tissue.
Answer: False
Explanation: Hormonal fluctuations, including those during menopause, can influence vocal fold tissue composition and function, potentially affecting voice quality.
The laryngeal prominence, or Adam's apple, becomes more pronounced in females during puberty due to hormonal influences.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Adam's apple becomes more pronounced primarily in males during puberty due to testosterone's effects on laryngeal growth.
Which substance is abundant in the lamina propria of newborn vocal folds, contributing to their viscoelastic properties?
Answer: Hyaluronic acid
Explanation: Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the ground substance in the neonatal lamina propria, providing essential viscoelastic and shock-absorbing characteristics.
During puberty, what effect does dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have on the larynx and vocal folds?
Answer: It leads to the appearance of the Adam's apple, lengthening/thickening of vocal folds, and voice deepening.
Explanation: DHT promotes significant changes in the male larynx during puberty, including laryngeal growth, vocal fold elongation and thickening, and subsequent voice deepening.
Adult males typically have vocal folds that are:
Answer: Longer and thicker than adult females.
Explanation: Due to hormonal influences during puberty, adult males generally possess vocal folds that are longer and thicker than those of adult females.
What is the hypothesized benefit of the high hyaluronic acid content in newborn vocal cords?
Answer: Protection against damage during prolonged crying.
Explanation: The high concentration of hyaluronic acid in neonatal vocal folds is thought to provide viscoelastic properties that protect the tissue during extended vocalizations like crying.
The 'Adam's apple' (laryngeal prominence) becomes more pronounced during puberty primarily in:
Answer: Males, due to testosterone.
Explanation: The significant growth of the thyroid cartilage, resulting in a more prominent Adam's apple, is a characteristic change in males during puberty, driven by testosterone.
Hyaluronic acid primarily contributes to the rigidity and stiffness of vocal fold tissue.
Answer: False
Explanation: Hyaluronic acid contributes to the viscoelasticity, acting as a shock absorber and providing pliability, rather than rigidity, to vocal fold tissue.
An increase in elastin content with age improves vocal fold flexibility for demanding tasks like opera singing.
Answer: False
Explanation: While elastin provides elasticity, an increase in cross-linked elastin fibers with age tends to decrease flexibility and pliability, potentially hindering demanding vocal tasks.
Collagen provides strength and structural support to the vocal cords, while elastin provides elasticity.
Answer: True
Explanation: Collagen fibers confer tensile strength and structural integrity, whereas elastin fibers provide the necessary elasticity for the vocal folds to vibrate and return to their resting state.
Mechanical stimulation like phonation inhibits fibroblast activity in the vocal folds.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mechanical stimulation, such as that from regular phonation, appears to stimulate fibroblast activity, influencing the extracellular matrix composition and potentially promoting tissue health.
In old age, the superficial layer of the lamina propria tends to thin and can become edematous.
Answer: True
Explanation: Age-related changes in the vocal folds often include thinning and potential edema of the superficial lamina propria, alongside other structural modifications.
Which component provides strength and structural support to the vocal cords?
Answer: Collagen fibers
Explanation: Collagen fibers are the primary structural component responsible for providing tensile strength and resistance to deformation within the vocal folds.
How does the structure of vocal folds typically change in old age?
Answer: The superficial layer thins/edematous, muscle layer atrophies, and other layers change composition.
Explanation: Aging leads to complex changes including thinning and potential edema of the superficial layer, atrophy of the vocalis muscle, and alterations in the composition of other layers, affecting vocal function.
What role does hyaluronic acid play in vocal fold biomechanics?
Answer: It acts as a shock absorber and contributes to viscosity and elasticity.
Explanation: Hyaluronic acid is integral to the vocal fold's viscoelastic properties, functioning as a shock absorber and contributing to the tissue's ability to deform and recover during vibration.
The recurrent laryngeal branch of the trigeminal nerve is responsible for controlling the vocal folds.
Answer: False
Explanation: The recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve, not the trigeminal nerve, is responsible for innervating the intrinsic muscles that control vocal fold movement and tension.
The cricothyroid muscle is responsible for relaxing and shortening the vocal folds to lower the pitch.
Answer: False
Explanation: The cricothyroid muscle's primary action is to tense and elongate the vocal folds, which increases pitch, not relaxes them to lower pitch.
The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is essential for closing the vocal folds during phonation.
Answer: False
Explanation: The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is responsible for opening (abducting) the vocal folds, crucial for breathing, not closing them for phonation.
The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle pulls the arytenoid cartilages forward and inward to bring the vocal folds together.
Answer: True
Explanation: The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle adducts the vocal folds by pulling the arytenoid cartilages medially, which is essential for phonation.
Which nerve is responsible for controlling the movement and tension of the vocal folds?
Answer: The recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve.
Explanation: The recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve, innervates the intrinsic laryngeal muscles that control vocal fold function.
What is the primary role of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle?
Answer: Opening (abducting) the vocal folds for breathing.
Explanation: The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is unique in its function of abducting the vocal folds, thereby opening the glottis for respiration.
Which joint allows the thyroid cartilage to tilt, adjusting vocal fold tension and pitch?
Answer: Cricothyroid joint
Explanation: The cricothyroid joint permits the thyroid cartilage to pivot relative to the cricoid cartilage, altering the length and tension of the vocal folds and thus pitch.
What is the function of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle?
Answer: To close (adduct) the vocal folds for phonation.
Explanation: The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle is a primary adductor of the vocal folds, essential for bringing them together to produce sound.
Most vocal fold lesions occur in the deeper muscle layers of the vocal folds.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vocal fold lesions most commonly affect the superficial layers of the vocal fold cover (epithelium and superficial lamina propria) due to shearing forces.
Reinke's edema causes swelling in the superficial lamina propria, leading to a higher vocal pitch.
Answer: False
Explanation: Reinke's edema involves swelling in the superficial lamina propria, which increases the mass of the vocal folds, typically resulting in a lower, deeper vocal pitch.
Vocal fold scarring typically results in improved vocal fold vibration and clarity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vocal fold scarring disrupts the normal vibratory properties, often leading to reduced clarity, increased effort, and voice disorders, rather than improvement.
A balanced production of hyaluronic acid and collagen is crucial for regenerative vocal fold wound healing.
Answer: True
Explanation: Maintaining an appropriate balance of hyaluronic acid and collagen is essential for promoting regenerative healing and preventing the disorganized deposition that leads to scarring.
Symptoms of vocal fold scarring include improved vocal stamina and clarity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vocal fold scarring typically manifests as reduced vocal stamina, increased effort, and impaired clarity, not improvement.
Chronic overuse of the voice, known as phonotrauma, is a potential cause of vocal fold injury.
Answer: True
Explanation: Phonotrauma, resulting from excessive or improper voice use, is a well-recognized cause of injury to the vocal folds.
What is the main consequence of vocal fold scarring after injury?
Answer: Disruption of normal vibratory properties, potentially causing voice disorders.
Explanation: Scar tissue formation alters the biomechanical properties of the vocal folds, impairing vibration and often leading to dysphonia or other voice impairments.
Which of the following is a potential cause of vocal fold injury mentioned in the source?
Answer: Chronic overuse or misuse of the voice (phonotrauma).
Explanation: Phonotrauma, encompassing chronic overuse and misuse of the voice, is a significant risk factor for vocal fold injury.
The term 'vocal cords' was coined by Antoine Ferrein in the 18th century, using a violin analogy.
Answer: True
Explanation: Antoine Ferrein introduced the term 'vocal cords' in 1741, drawing an analogy to the strings of a violin to describe their function in sound production.
In phonetics, 'vocal cords' is the preferred term due to its anatomical accuracy.
Answer: False
Explanation: The term 'vocal folds' is generally preferred in phonetics and anatomical contexts as it is considered more accurate than 'vocal cords'.
The term 'vocal cords' was introduced by Antoine Ferrein based on an analogy with:
Answer: A violin string
Explanation: Antoine Ferrein likened the vocal cords to violin strings in 1741, conceptualizing how their vibration produced sound when acted upon by airflow.
What is the preferred terminology for vocal folds in the field of phonetics?
Answer: Vocal folds
Explanation: In phonetics and related scientific disciplines, 'vocal folds' is the preferred term due to its greater anatomical precision compared to 'vocal cords'.