How does respiratory system help you speak

Vocal fold vibration is the sound source: it is also called phonation system 2. The vocal folds are two small muscles that have a moist covering, within the larynx.

When you breathe, the vocal folds are open to allow air to flow from your upper airway into your trachea and lungs. When you want to speak, you close your vocal folds and begin to exhale, causing an increase in pressure that starts them vibrating cyclic opening and closing. The buzzing tone created by the vocal folds becomes what we know as the human voice through resonance system 3. Resonance is the shaping and amplification of the sound waves of the vocal tone. The length and shape of the vocal tract influences the shaping of this tone, as well as what structures or cavities the sound waves may bounce off of.

Breathe out and feel your diaphragm and lungs deflate, also to the count of 3. It is also important to note that certain medical conditions may interfere with breathing and speaking, including allergies, asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, laryngitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and upper respiratory infections.

A pulmonologist or otolaryngologist may refer someone whose speech has become weak, hoarse or breathy to a speech-language pathologist for restorative exercises. To find an excellent doctor who is right for you, please call our Physician Referral Service at Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. The respiratory system aids in breathing, also called pulmonary ventilation. In pulmonary ventilation, air is inhaled through the nasal and oral cavities the nose and mouth. It moves through the pharynx, larynx, and trachea into the lungs.

Then air is exhaled, flowing back through the same pathway. Changes to the volume and air pressure in the lungs trigger pulmonary ventilation. During normal inhalation, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract and the ribcage elevates. As the volume of the lungs increases, air pressure drops and air rushes in. During normal exhalation, the muscles relax.

The lungs become smaller, the air pressure rises, and air is expelled. Inside the lungs, oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide waste through the process called external respiration. This respiratory process takes place through hundreds of millions of microscopic sacs called alveoli. Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses from the alveoli into pulmonary capillaries surrounding them.

It binds to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells, and is pumped through the bloodstream. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide from deoxygenated blood diffuses from the capillaries into the alveoli, and is expelled through exhalation.

The bloodstream delivers oxygen to cells and removes waste carbon dioxide through internal respiration, another key function of the respiratory system.