Vocal pedagogy

Respiratory Anatomy

Respiratory system Lungs provide airflow which is the

power/fuel for the voice Essential to life Part of the autonomic nervous

system- so happens without conscious thought

Provides oxygen for body function and disposes of waste carbon dioxide.

Structure of the lungs Trachea, left and right bronchus to

bronchioles then alveoli. There are between 20 and 30 generations of branches.

Left has 2 lobes and right has 3 Between the lungs is the mediastinum a

space containing the heart, trachea oesophagus and blood vessels.

The surface area of the alveoli is a similar size to a tennis court and so allows rapid exchange of gases.

Lobes of lungs

Structure of the lungs The lungs are encased in a double plural

membrane. This is one continuous sac which doubles back on itself. The Visceral Pleura adheres to the lungs and the out parietal pleura encases the chest wall.

The intrapleural space contains a lubricating fluid. It is not a real space but a place of negative pressure keeping the two membranes adhered together. The fluid allows the membranes to slide over each other easily during expansion and contraction with breathing.

Action of the lungs The negative pressure means that the

surface tension keeps the two surfaces together preventing the lung from collapsing.

Air is drawn into the lungs through the nose or mouth, through the larynx and trachea. The trachea is a flexible tube made up of rings of cartilage. The rings are incomplete giving flexibility to the tube.

Airflow Air moves into an area of lower

pressure created by the mechanical expansion of the ribs

The trigger to inhale comes from the medulla of the brain in response to receptors detecting the presence of CO2

Action of bellows

Skeletal support of the lungs The spinal column is divided into 5

areas. Each part has numbered vertebrae

Cervical - C1-7 Thoracic - T1-12 Lumbar - L1-5 Sacral - S1-5 Coccygeal - Cg1-5 Coccyx

Spinal column

Ribs and sternum The thoracic vertebrae provide the

attachment of the twelve ribs at the back

The Sternum made up of the manubrium, body of sternum and xiphoid process with which the true ribs articulate at the front

Sternum

Rib Cage

False ribs 8-12 The 8-10 pairs of ribs connect to the

sternum indirectly via the costal cartilages of the ribs above them. Their elasticity allows ribcage movement for respiratory activity.

The phrase floating rib refers to the two lowermost 11 and 12 rib pairs; so-called because they are attached only to the vertebrae–and not to the sternum or cartilage of the sternum. These ribs are relatively small and delicate, and include a cartilaginous tip.

Muscles of respiration

Inspiratory muscles

Quiet Inspiration Diaphragm when it contracts it

becomes less domed and flatter increasing the size of the thoracic cavity Question can you put your hand on your

diaphragm?

External intercostals (note the direction of the muscle fibres.)

Diaphragmatic movement

Rib expansion Upper ribs are hinged with the

sternum so they move forwards when raised. This does not increase the size of the

lungs as much as lower ribs and is considered inefficient

Lower ribs (5 upwards) move more like a bucket handle outwards and upwards

Muscles of forced inspiration Muscles of forced inspiration

Costal elevators Sternocleidomastoid Scalenes Pectorals Latissimus dorsi Levatores costarum Serratus posterior superior

Accessory muscles of inspiration

Expiration Passive at rest Recruitment muscles for

Forced expiration Controlled expiration in speech and

song

Expiration

Active Expiration While speaking, muscular force can be

used to prevent the ribcage from descending too quickly. Either to forcefully exhale, or to exhale below the resting level. The internal intercostal muscles which lie deep to the external intercostals act in this way. The muscle fibres run in an opposite direction to the external intercostals - they run down and laterally.

Other muscle of expiration Rectus abdominus muscle External oblique muscle Internal oblique muscle Transverse abdominus. Quadratus lumborum