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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle shortening and maximum contraction velocity in adults with normal anatomy. Method: Twenty-two Caucasian English-speaking adults with normal speech and resonance were recruited. Participants included 11 men and 11 women (M = 22.8 years, SD = 4.1) with normal anatomy. Static magnetic resonance images were obtained using a three-dimensional static imaging protocol. Midsagittal and oblique coronal planes were established for visualization of the velum and LVP muscle at rest. Dynamic magnetic resonance images were obtained in the oblique coronal plane during production of "ansa." Amira 6.0.1 Visualization and Volume Modeling Software and MATLAB were used to analyze images and calculate LVP shortening and maximum contraction velocity. Results: Significant predictors (p < 0.05) of maximum LVP shortening during velopharyngeal closure included mean extravelar length, LVP origin-to-origin distance, velar thickness, pharyngeal depth, and velopharyngeal ratio. Significant predictors (p < 0.05) of maximum contraction velocity during velopharyngeal closure included mean extravelar length, intravelar length, LVP origin-to-origin distance, and velar thickness. Conclusions: This study identified six velopharyngeal variables that predict LVP muscle function during real-time speech. These predictors should be considered among children and individuals with repaired cleft palate in future studies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in velopharyngeal dimensions as well as levator veli palatini (levator) muscle morphology, positioning, and symmetry of children with repaired cleft palate with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), children with repaired cleft palate with complete velopharyngeal closure, and children with noncleft anatomy. Method: Fifteen children ranging in age from 4 to 8 years were recruited for this study. Ten of the participants had a history of repaired cleft palate, half with documented VPI and the other half with velopharyngeal closure. Five participants with noncleft anatomy were matched for age from a normative database. The magnetic resonance imaging protocol, processing methods, and analysis are consistent with that used in previous literature. Results: Regarding velopharyngeal dimensions, median values were statistically significantly different between groups for sagittal angle (p = 0.031) and effective velopharyngeal ratio (p = 0.013). With respect to the levator muscle, median values were statistically significant for average extravelar length (p = 0.018), thickness at midline (p = 0.021), and thickness between the left and right muscle bundles at the point of insertion into the velum (p = 0.037). Remaining measures were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The levator muscle is significantly different among these three groups with respect to thickness at midline, extravelar length, and symmetry at the point of insertion into the velum. Sagittal angle and effective velopharyngeal ratio are also significantly different. Participants with repaired cleft palate and VPI displayed the greatest degree of asymmetry. Future research should control for surgical procedure type to determine the impact of surgery on the levator muscle and surrounding velopharyngeal anatomy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a method able to quantify levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle shortening and contraction velocities using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) throughout speech samples and relate these measurements to velopharyngeal portal dimensions. Method: Six healthy adults (3 men and 3 women, M = 24.5 years) produced syllables representing 4 different manners of production during real-time dynamic MRI scans. We acquired an oblique-coronal slice of the velopharyngeal mechanism, which captured the length of the LVP, and manually segmented each frame. LVP shortening and muscle velocities were calculated from the acquired images. Results: Using our method, we found that subjects demonstrated greater LVP shortening and higher maximum contraction velocities during fricative and plosive syllable production than during nasal or vowel syllable production. LVP shortening and maximum contraction velocity positively correlated with velopharyngeal port depth. Conclusions: In vivo LVP function differs between manners of production, as expected, and an individual's velopharyngeal portal dimensions influence LVP function. These measures, contextualized with the force-length and force-velocity muscle relationships, provide new insight into LVP function. Future studies could use this method to investigate LVP function in healthy speakers and individuals with velopharyngeal dysfunction and how function relates to velopharyngeal anatomy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a method able to quantify levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle shortening and contraction velocities using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) throughout speech samples and relate these measurements to velopharyngeal portal dimensions. Method: Six healthy adults (3 men and 3 women, M = 24.5 years) produced syllables representing 4 different manners of production during real-time dynamic MRI scans. We acquired an oblique-coronal slice of the velopharyngeal mechanism, which captured the length of the LVP, and manually segmented each frame. LVP shortening and muscle velocities were calculated from the acquired images. Results: Using our method, we found that subjects demonstrated greater LVP shortening and higher maximum contraction velocities during fricative and plosive syllable production than during nasal or vowel syllable production. LVP shortening and maximum contraction velocity positively correlated with velopharyngeal port depth. Conclusions: In vivo LVP function differs between manners of production, as expected, and an individual's velopharyngeal portal dimensions influence LVP function. These measures, contextualized with the force-length and force-velocity muscle relationships, provide new insight into LVP function. Future studies could use this method to investigate LVP function in healthy speakers and individuals with velopharyngeal dysfunction and how function relates to velopharyngeal anatomy., The velopharyngeal (VP) mechanism consists of the velum, lateral pharyngeal walls, posterior pharyngeal wall, and associated musculature. Proper function of the VP mechanism is necessary for acceptable and perceptually normal [...]

In a geometry, a maximal cap is a collection of points of largest size no three of which are collinear. In A G ( 4 , 3 ) , maximal caps contain 20 points; the 81 points of A G ( 4 , 3 ) can be partitioned into 4 mutually disjoint maximal caps together with a single point P , where every pair of points that makes a line with P lies entirely inside one of those caps. The caps in a partition can be paired up so that both pairs are either in exactly one partition or they are both in two different partitions. This difference determines the two equivalence classes of partitions of A G ( 4 , 3 ) under the action by affine transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]