MEDICAL DEMONSTRATIONS and DISEASE SIMULATIONS

1. Demonstrations: The function of your tongue. Problems post glossectomy (surgical removal of the tongue). The tongue functions in tasting, swallowing and forming the words of speech.

a. Taste: place granulated sugar or Equal in your mouth and taste it with your tongue. Taste is the ability to respond to dissolved molecules (as contrasted with the sense of smell, which detects airborne molecules). Humans detect taste with taste receptor cells, which are clustered in taste buds on the tongue.

b. Swallowing: Try swallowing without contracting the muscles of your tongue. You can't!

c. Speech: Try counting to ten without moving your tongue. You can make sounds, but the words are not clear.

Willie Thornton (Video Script pg 42) had a glossectomy (surgical removal of his tongue) because of a smoking related cancer. Can you imagine how he felt? (see slide 1)

2. Demonstrations: The function of your larynx (voice box). Problems post laryngectomy (surgical removal of the larynx)
The larynx functions in speech, swallowing and coughing. It is located in between the lower throat and upper windpipe. (see slide 7)

a) Locating your larynx: place two fingers over your throat and swallow. You can feel your larynx (voice box) move up and down. (This is what's cut out when you get cancer of the larynx)

b) Locating your vocal cords: The larynx (voice box) contains two vocal cords. With your two fingers in the same place, say "EEEEEE". You can feel your two vocal cords vibrating against each other making the sound. (This is what's cut out when you get cancer of the larynx so you can never again make sounds in a normal fashion).

c) Speech: Try saying "EEEEEEE" while you are breathing in. During inhalation, the two vocal cords are held wide apart, cannot vibrate against each other and, therefore, cannot generate normal sound; only a whisper. When the larynx (which contains the vocal cords) is removed, you can't even do that.

d) Swallowing: Try breathing at the same time you swallow. Fortunately you can't because the epiglottis, a thin flap, instantly covers the larynx (airway entrance) during the act of swallowing. When the larynx and epiglottis are surgically removed because of cancer, every time you swallow, food or fluid would pass into your windpipe and choke you---unless something is done. Therefore, when the larynx is removed, the trachea or windpipe is diverted to the skin of the neck as a tracheostomy. You breathe through this hole in your neck (and not through your mouth or nose) for the rest of your life (see slide 11). This is the trade off which allows you to