COM 204: Anatomy and Physiology Speech Hearing Mechanism

Course Description

This course will introduce students to the anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of the systems and processes involved in human speech production, hearing, swallowing, and neurological systems. The anatomical and physiological bases of normal speech and hearing processes, including respiration, phonation, articulation, and hearing will be emphasized in this course. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • COM 102: Language / Communication Development

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe anatomical structures associated with the respiratory, phonatory, resonatory, and articulatory subsystems of speech.
  2. Describe the physiology of speech production (i.e., respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation) and swallowing.
  3. Analyze the relationship between anatomical variations in the speech and hearing mechanism and their impact on speech production and auditory perception.
  4. Apply neurological systems underlying speech production and swallowing to work with students in schools.
  5. Synthesize knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanisms for evaluation and application of communication disorders and speech production.
  6. Use anatomical and physiological terminology to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients in the fields of speech-language pathology, audiology, and related disciplines.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions

10%

Visual Diagrams

10%

Primal Anatomy Reflections

10%

E-Portfolio

20%

Quizzes

20%

Exams

30%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Seikel, J. A., Drumright, D. G., & Hudock, D. J. (2025). Anatomy & physiology for speech, language, and hearing. Plural Publishing, Inc.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignment(s)

1

1,4,6

Topic: Basic Elements of Anatomy

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Register for Primal Anatomy
  • Submit the Week 1 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

2

1,4,6

Topic: Neuroanatomy

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit Week 2 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection 

3

1,4,6

Topic: Neurophysiology

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 12
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Submit Week 3 Assignment - Visual Diagram 1
  • Complete Week 3 Quiz

4

1,2,6

Topic: Anatomy of Respiration

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 2
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit Week 4 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

5

1,2,3,5,6

Topic: Physiology of Respiration

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Submit Week 5 Assignment - Visual Diagram 2
  • Submit Week 5 Assignment - E-portfolio Check-in
  • Complete Week 5 Quiz

6

1,2,3,4,6

Topic: Anatomy of Phonation

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 4
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 6 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

7

1,2,3,5,6

Topics: Physiology of Phonation

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 5
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Submit Week 7 Assignment - Visual Diagram 3
  • Submit Week 7 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection
  • Complete Week 7 Exam

8

1,3,6

Topic: Anatomy of Articulation and Resonation

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 6
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 8 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

9

1,3,6

Topic: Anatomy of Articulation and Resonation, Continued

  • Review:
    • Chapter 6
  • Review assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 9 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

10

1,2,3,5,6

Topic: Physiology of Articulation

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 7
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 10 Assignment - Visual Diagram 4
  • Submit the Week 10 Assignment - E-Portfolio Check-in 
  • Complete Week 10 Quiz

11

1,2,3,4,5,6

Topic: Physiology of Mastication and Deglutition

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 8
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Submit Week 11 Assignment - Visual Diagram 5
  • Submit Week 11 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

12

1,3,6

Topics: Anatomy of Hearing

  • Readings: 
    • Chapter 9
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit the Week 12 Assignment - Primal Anatomy Reflection

13

1,3,5,6

Topic: Physiology of Hearing

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 10
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit the Week 13 Assignment - Visual Diagram 6
  • Complete Week 13 Quiz 

14

1,2,3,4,5,6

Topic: Course wrap up/review

  • Review:
    • Review of Weeks 8-13 (readings, material and Primal Anatomy) 
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit the Week 14 Assignment - E-Portfolio Assignment

15

1,2,3,4,5,6

Topic: FInal Exam

  • Review:
    • Review of Weeks 8-13 (readings, material and Primal Anatomy) 
  • Read assigned material
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Complete Week 15 Final Exam
  • Complete course evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.