Motor control and biomechanics of laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles

Abstract

This chapter reviews the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles that are essential for voice, speech and swallowing in the human. The focus is on the individual and combined effects of muscle contraction and how these are controlled for both reflexive and volitional controlled functions in the human. Knowledge of the neural control systems is limited compared to limb control because of difficulties with the non-invasive study of laryngeal/pharyngeal mechanisms in the human. Human production of voice for speech is learned and cortically driven and and may be unique compared to other mammalian systems. Although functional neuroimaging has been fruitful questions about the accuracy of some cortical studies need further investigation. The integrative study of the complex neural control systems for laryngeal and pharyngeal muscle control for voice, speech and swallowing in the human are of high importance for improving patient care.