A study of the microstructure of the human laryngeal ventricle and ventricular band was carried out on 20 human larynges in an attempt to up-date and elucidate the function of these structures. Celloidin and paraffin whole organ coronal serial sections were studied to clarify the epithelial, glandular as well as muscular structures of the ventricle and ventricular band. The present study showed that the superior thyro-arytenoid muscle was bilaterally present in 80% of cases. On the other hand, the ventricularis muscle was bilaterally present in 95% of cases. These ventricular muscular elements have been reported differently in the literature. The functional significance of these variations are discussed. The opening of the saccule into the ventricle is guarded anteriorly by the ventriculo-saccular fold. This fold was present in 19 out of 20 larynges. Neither the percentage of its presence, nor its orientation to the saccular opening has been reported in the literature. The function of this structure is discussed in the light of the present data.
The pattern of gross displacement of the vocal fold during adduction and abduction was studied in 4 adult fresh human larynges (2 males and 2 females). Markers were placed on specific sites along the edge of the vocal fold. Preliminary observations showed upward and lateral movement of the free edge during abduction. The vocal fold as a whole glides into and fills the cavity of the laryngeal ventricle. To quantify this observation 14 larynges (8 males and 6 females) were studied, using a technique designed to measure vertical and horizontal displacement of the vocal fold. An average of a 1.34 mm elevation and 4.43 mm lateral excursion were observed at midvocal fold level. A model for studying the pattern of vocal fold abduction is suggested and discussed.
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