Control over the fundamental frequency of the laryngeal tone is primarily related to which muscle?

Control over the fundamental frequency of the laryngeal tone is primarily related to which muscle?

• A. Posterior cricoarytenoid
• B. Lateral cricoarytenoid
• C. Cricothyroid
• D. Sternocleidomastoid

Answer: (C)

The primary control over the fundamental frequency of the laryngeal tone is indeed associated with the cricothyroid muscle. This muscle plays a significant role in modulating pitch by adjusting the tension and length of the vocal folds. When the cricothyroid muscle contracts, it tilts the thyroid cartilage forward and downward toward the cricoid cartilage, resulting in elongation of the vocal folds. This elongation increases the frequency of vibration, thereby raising the pitch of the voice. In vocal production, the fundamental frequency is crucial as it defines the perceived pitch of a sound. The interaction of various laryngeal muscles allows for fine control over pitch, but the cricothyroid is uniquely specialized for this task due to its specific anatomical orientation and the way it affects the tension of the vocal folds. Understanding this relationship is essential for speech-language pathologists when addressing voice disorders and pitch control issues in their clients.

The primary control over the fundamental frequency of the laryngeal tone is indeed associated with the cricothyroid muscle. This muscle plays a significant role in modulating pitch by adjusting the tension and length of the vocal folds. When the cricothyroid muscle contracts, it tilts the thyroid cartilage forward and downward toward the cricoid cartilage, resulting in elongation of the vocal folds. This elongation increases the frequency of vibration, thereby raising the pitch of the voice.

In vocal production, the fundamental frequency is crucial as it defines the perceived pitch of a sound. The interaction of various laryngeal muscles allows for fine control over pitch, but the cricothyroid is uniquely specialized for this task due to its specific anatomical orientation and the way it affects the tension of the vocal folds. Understanding this relationship is essential for speech-language pathologists when addressing voice disorders and pitch control issues in their clients.