Some Mechanical Properties of Lower Lip Movement During Speech Production
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James H. Abbs
Abstract
In an attempt to describe the mechanical properties of lower lip movement during speech production, EMG activity from the orbicularis oris inferior and depressor labii inferior muscles was observed along with jaw-independent movement of the lower lip in the inferior-superior dimension. A simple analog computer was employed to aid in the determination of this EMG movement transfer function. The results of the analysis suggested that one predominant mechanical limitation on lower lip movement in the inferior-superior dimension is the viscosity of muscle contraction, which varies most directly with the rate of active muscle shortening. There was also evidence of an elastic component which acted, in part, as an energy storage element to return the lip to the closure position.
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© 1973 S. Karger AG, Basel
