Length of the Human Vocal Folds: Proposal of Mathematical Equations as a Function of Gender and Body Height

Filho, João Aragão Ximenes; Melo, Erich Christiano Madruga de; Carneiro, Christiano de Giacomo; Tsuji, Domingos Hiroshi; Sennes, Luiz Ubirajara

doi:10.1177/000348940511400510

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…In humans it is known that body height and vocal fold length correlate positively [(e.g. Hirano, 1983; Filho et al, 2005); note that vocal fold length was measured during the resting position or in cadavers]. Despite this positive relationship in anatomical parameters, a relationship between body size and fundamental frequency parameters is somewhat inconsistent (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal fold elasticity of the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) – producing high fundamental frequency vocalization with a very long vocal fold

Riede

Titze

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The vocal folds of male Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) are about 3 cm long. If fundamental frequency were to be predicted by a simple vibrating string formula, as is often done for the human larynx, such long vocal folds would bear enormous stress to produce the species-specific mating call with an average fundamental frequency of 1 kHz. Predictions would be closer to 50 Hz. Vocal fold histology revealed the presence of a large vocal ligament between the vocal fold epithelium and the thyroarytenoid muscle. In tensile tests, the stress–strain response of vocal fold epithelium and the vocal ligament were determined. Elasticity of both tissue structures reached quantitative values similar to human tissue. It seems unlikely that the longitudinal stress in elk vocal folds can exceed that in human vocal folds by an order of magnitude to overcome the drop in fundamental frequency due to a 3:1 increase in vocal fold length. Alternative hypotheses of how the elk produces high fundamental frequency utterances, despite its very long vocal fold, include a reduced effective vocal fold length in vibration, either due to bending properties along the vocal fold, or by actively moving the boundary point with muscle stiffening. The relationships between an individual’s average fundamental frequency, vocal fold length and body size are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal fold elasticity of the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) – producing high fundamental frequency vocalization with a very long vocal fold

Riede

Titze

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Previous, unpublished human endoscopy data were collected with institutional review board approval from females (n = 17) and males (n = 18) and analyzed in the same manner as the ex vivo data. Vocal fold length was estimated using the height and gender of the subjects and the equations proposed by Filho et al15…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecies comparison of mucosal wave properties using high‐speed digital imaging

2010

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Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the vocal fold vibratory characteristics of ex vivo bovine, canine, ovine, and porcine larynges to human male and female vocal fold vibrations to determine the best model organism for laryngeal studies concerning vibratory and kinetic characteristics. Study Design Prospective experimental Methods High speed videos were gathered at 4000 frames per second (fps) in the animal models and human high-speed endoscopy data were gathered at 2000 fps. Videos were converted into kymograms and the amplitude, oscillation frequency, and phase difference of vocal fold vibration were measured. Results No statistically significant differences were found with respect to frequency, amplitude, or phase difference between canines and humans. Swine were not significantly different from human females but did have a significantly different oscillation frequency than human males. Ovine vibrational amplitudes were significantly different from humans, and bovine frequency and amplitude differed significantly from humans. Conclusion Canine and porcine larynges are the most appropriate model specimens for laryngeal studies contingent on vibratory or kinetic properties of phonation.

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“…Vocal cord measurements were greater in males than those in female adults and these findings are similar to previous reports. [81415] Our measurements are larger than previously reported vocal cord measurements. [814] This may be explained by ethnic differences, a younger adult population as well as operator technique and different measuring points taken.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…[81415] Our measurements are larger than previously reported vocal cord measurements. [814] This may be explained by ethnic differences, a younger adult population as well as operator technique and different measuring points taken. The left true vocal cord measurement was larger but not statistically significant compared with the right true vocal cord.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Is there a correlation of sonographic measurements of true vocal cords with gender or body mass indices in normal healthy volunteers?

Bright

Secko

Mehta

et al. 2014

J Emerg Trauma Shock

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Background:Ultrasound is a readily available, non-invasive technique to visualize airway dimensions at the patient's bedside and possibly predict difficult airways before invasively looking; however, it has rarely been used for emergency investigation of the larynx. There is limited literature on the sonographic measurements of true vocal cords in adults and normal parameters must be established before abnormal parameters can be accurately identified.Objectives:The primary objective of the following study is to identify the normal sonographic values of human true vocal cords in an adult population. A secondary objective is to determine if there is a difference in true vocal cord measurements in people with different body mass indices (BMIs). The third objective was to determine if there was a statistical difference in the measurements for both genders.Materials and Methods:True vocal cord measurements were obtained in healthy volunteers by ultrasound fellowship trained emergency medicine physicians using a high frequency linear transducer orientated transversely across the anterior surface of the neck at the level of the thyroid cartilage. The width of the true vocal cord was measured perpendicularly to the length of the cord at its mid-portion. This method was duplicated from a previous study to create a standard of measurement acquisition.Results:A total of 38 subjects were enrolled. The study demonstrated no correlation between vocal cord measurements and patient's characteristics of height, weight, or BMI's. When accounting for vocal cord measurements by gender, males had larger BMI's and larger vocal cord measurements compared with females subjects with a statistically significant different in right vocal cord measurements for females compared with male subjects.Conclusion:No correlation was seen between vocal cord measurements and person's BMIs. In the study group of normal volunteers, there was a difference in size between the male and female vocal cord size.

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Length of the Human Vocal Folds: Proposal of Mathematical Equations as a Function of Gender and Body Height

Cited by 17 publications

References 9 publications

Vocal fold elasticity of the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) – producing high fundamental frequency vocalization with a very long vocal fold

Vocal fold elasticity of the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) – producing high fundamental frequency vocalization with a very long vocal fold

Interspecies comparison of mucosal wave properties using high‐speed digital imaging

Is there a correlation of sonographic measurements of true vocal cords with gender or body mass indices in normal healthy volunteers?

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