280 



HANDBOOK OF PHYSIOLOGY 



Sneezing. The same remarks that apply to coughing, are almost 

 exactly applicable to the act of sneezing; but in this instance the blast 

 of air, on escaping from the lungs, is directed, by tin instinctive contrac- 

 tion of the pillars of the fauces, and descent of the soft palate, chiefly 

 through the nose, and any offending matter is thence expelled. 



Speaking. In speaking, there is a voluntary expulsion of air through 

 the glottis bv means of the expiratory muscles. The vocal cords, by the 



muscles of the larynx, are put in a proper position and state of tension 

 for vibrating as the air passes over them, and sound is produced. The 

 sound is moulded into articulate speech by the tongue, teeth, lips, etc. 

 the vocal cords producing the sound only, and having nothing to do 

 with articulation. 



Singing. Singing resembles speaking in the manner of its produc- 

 tion ; the laryngeal muscles, by variously altering the position and de- 

 gree of tension of the vocal cords, producing the different notes. Words 

 used in the act of singing are of course framed, as in speaking, by the 

 tongue, teeth, lips, etc. 



Sniffing. Sniffing is produced by a rapidly repeated but incomplete 



