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. 2007 Apr;121(4):2254-60.
doi: 10.1121/1.2697573.

A two-dimensional biomechanical model of vocal fold posturing

Ingo R Titze  1 , Eric J Hunter
Affiliations

A two-dimensional biomechanical model of vocal fold posturing

Ingo R Titze et al. J Acoust Soc Am. 2007 Apr.

Abstract

The forces and torques governing effective two-dimensional (2D) translation and rotation of the laryngeal cartilages (cricoid, thyroid, and arytenoids) are quantified on the basis of more complex three-dimensional movement. The motions between these cartilages define the elongation and adduction (collectively referred to as posturing) of the vocal folds. Activations of the five intrinsic laryngeal muscles, the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, posterior cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid are programmed as inputs, in isolation and in combination, to produce the dynamics of 2D posturing. Parameters for the muscles are maximum active stress, passive stress, activation time, contraction time, and maximum shortening velocity. The model accepts measured electromyographic signals as inputs. A repeated adductory-abductory gesture in the form /hi-hi-hi-hi-hi/ is modeled with electromyographic inputs. Movement and acoustic outputs are compared between simulation and measurement.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Framework of the larynx with intrinsic musculature. (a) posterio-lateral view, (b) lateral view.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Lines of action of the forces of the laryngeal muscles.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Forces acting on the arytenoid cartilages for cricoarytenoid movement.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Two-dimensional arytenoid cartilage posturing with specified muscle activations, (a) cadaveric (b) 100% CT, (c) 100% LCA, (e) 100% TA, (f) 100% IA, and (g) 20% CT, 50% LCA, 0% PCA, 20% TA, 90% IA.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Time course of posturing variables, (a) adduction variable ξ02, and (b) elongation variable ψ02.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
(after Poletto, et al. 2004). Data from production of | hi-hi-hi-hi-hi |. The head mounted microphone is shown in the top row. The following four rows are the rectified and smoothed EMG signals for the four muscles: PCA, CT, TA, and LCA. Normalized glottal angle is shown in the bottom row.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Waveform outputs of the simulator. Left column: vocal tract outline, contact area, glottal area ga, flow ug, flow derivative dug. Right column: pressure out Po, pressure behind lips Pm, pressure at epiglottis Pe, pressure at glottis Pg, and subglottal pressure Ps. The upper right is the pressure at the mouth which can be played back as simulated voice (compare to row one of Figure 6).
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References

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