A morphological study of the human prepubertal and pubertal larynx

Abstract

Measurements were made from ten Caucasian male and ten Caucasian female cadaveric larynges ranging in age from 9 to 18 years. The sample was divided into prepubertal and pubertal groups of each sex, respectively. Each specimen was dissected and measured according to a specified protocol so that data on linear and angular dimensions of the laryngeal cartilages and the weight of each cartilage were obtained. Results from this study highlighted differences in the developmental morphology of the circumpubertal larynx. With few exceptions, pubertal laryngeal measurements were significantly larger than prepubertal counterparts in both sexes. No clear sexual dimorphism was found between male and female prepubertal larynges though measurements of the prepubertal female larynx were closer to adult counterparts in size and weight than were those in the male. Thus the female larynx requires less growth per unit time to reach maturity than the male. By puberty, clear sexual dimorphism was evident in the larynx. Linear and weight measurements of the pubertal male larynx were significantly larger than in the female. Though the angle of the thyroid laminae was not significantly different in pubertal male and female cartilages, the thyroid eminence was clearly more prominent in the male. The vocal folds in both sexes reached essentially their adult length by puberty; however, the absolute length of the male vocal folds had increased by over two times that of the female.Few quantitative studies have been reported on the morphology of the human circumpubertal larynx. Gedgowd (1900) presented quantitative data on sex differences in laryngeal structure for the angle of the thyroid laminae and the length of the vocal folds. All other data on the larynx were not distinguished on the basis of sex or development. The mean data for the reported measures presumably represented both sexes. No indices of variability or sample size were available and age levels studied were overlapping. Klock ('68) had an insufficient number of larynges in the circumpubertal age range to report quantitatively on specific morphologic features of the larynx based on sex or development. As a consequence, he discussed overall patterns of postnatal laryngeal development.While the contributions of these authors furthered understanding of postnatal laryngeal growth, their studies lacked specificity of detail concerning the developmental anatomy of the larynx during the circumpubertal period. The purpose of the present study was to investigate these differences within each sex and in terms of sex differences. MATERIALS AND METHODSTwenty specimens between the ages of 9 and 19 years were selected from a group of 27 circumpubertal larynges preserved in 10% buffered formalin. Five male and five female prepubertal and five male and five female pubertal larynges were selected for study. The mean ages were 10.7,12,15.8 and 16 years, respectively. All specimens were obtained from individuals who had no histories of long term endotracheal intubation and were free fro...

An Ethological Perspective on Common Cross-Language Utilization of F₀ of Voice

“…The adult male larynx is approxi mately 50°/o larger than the adult female's in the anterior-posterior dimension [Negus. 1949;Kahane. 1978] (fig.…”

Androgen receptors and gender-specific distribution of alkaline phosphatase in human thyroid cartilage

“…Especially in men, the laryngeal dimensions are smaller before puberty than during puberty (Kahane 1978). X-ray investigations of Pu¨schel and Nowakowsky (1954) in 23 patients (aged 19-58 years) with androgen deficiency revealed that ossification of thyroid cartilage does not correspond to age.…”

Vocal development during postnatal growth and ear morphology in a shrew that generates seismic vibrations, Diplomesodon pulchellum

“…This is because acoustic differences between juveniles and adults primarily result from the differences in sizes of sound-producing structures (Fitch and Hauser, 2002). In humans and many other mammals, the f0 is inversely related to mass and length of the oscillating portions of the vocal folds (Titze, 1994), and both mass and length increase together with the growth of the larynx (Kahane, 1978(Kahane, , 1982. In most mammalian species, the growth of these sound-producing structures is related to the growth of the body, which results in a steady descent of f0 with age (for instance, Briefer and McElligott, 2011;Efremova et al, 2011;Campbell et al, 2014).…”