The Laryngeal Epithelium in Reflux

Abstract

The epithelium plays a critical role in the maintenance of laryngeal health. This is evident in that laryngeal disease may result when the integrity of the epithelium is compromised by insults such as laryngopharyngeal reflux. In this article, we will review the structure and function of the laryngeal epithelium and summarize the impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux on the epithelium. Research investigating the ramifications of reflux on the epithelium has improved our understanding of laryngeal disease associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux. It further highlights the need for continued research on the laryngeal epithelium in health and disease.

Vocal Function and Upper Airway Thermoregulation in Five Different Environmental Conditions

“…These findings do not provide support for the earlier assertion that temperature may be an important variable to include in the theoretical construct of phonation threshold pressure; however, this investigation may not have provided enough of a passive or active thermal challenge to the upper airway to realize a difference in PTP. The lack of significant difference in PTP between mouth versus nose breathing in each environmental condition tested departs from early findings (Sivasankar et al, 2008; Sivasankar & Fisher, 2002) of lower PTP values with nose breathing; however, these findings are consistent with more recent data presented by the Sivasankar laboratory (Erickson-Levendoski & Sivasankar, 2011; Sundarrajan, et al, 2012). The difference in these findings may be attributed to participant selection differences and protocol scheduling considerations.…”

“…These conditions and many of the medications taken for these conditions may interrupt the physiology of laryngeal epithelial health as demonstrated in recent basic research (Erickson-Levendoski & Sivasankar, 2011). The potential variability of the measurement of PTP was reduced through careful and repeated training of the task protocol as well as careful maintenance of task elicitation parameters within and between test conditions for each volunteer.…”

“…Their initial findings suggested increased PTP and PPE following oral breathing, particularly for the higher pitches assessed. More recent research that has targeted humidity manipulations with longer periods of mouth versus nose breathing did not supported these findings (Erickson-Levendoski & Sivasankar, 2011; Sundarrajan, Erickson-Levendoski, & Sivasankar, 2012). …”