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Comparative Study
. 2011 Jun;38(3):367-72.
doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Oct 28.

Rheometric properties of canine vocal fold tissues: variation with anatomic location

Miwako Kimura  1 , Ted Mau, Roger W Chan
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Rheometric properties of canine vocal fold tissues: variation with anatomic location

Miwako Kimura et al. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro rheometric properties of the canine vocal fold lamina propria and muscle at phonatory frequencies, and their changes with anatomic location.

Methods: Six canine larynges were harvested immediately postmortem. Viscoelastic shear properties of anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the vocal fold cover (lamina propria) as well as those of the medial thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle (vocalis muscle) were quantified by a linear, controlled-strain simple-shear rheometer. Measurements of elastic shear modulus (G') and dynamic viscosity (η') of the specimens were conducted with small-amplitude sinusoidal shear deformation over a frequency range of 1-250Hz.

Results: All specimens showed similar frequency dependence of the viscoelastic functions, with G' gradually increasing with frequency and η' decreasing with frequency monotonically. G' and η' of the canine vocalis muscle were significantly higher than those of the canine vocal fold cover, and η' of the canine vocal fold cover was significantly higher than that of the human vocal fold cover. There were no significant differences in G' and in η' between different portions of the canine vocal fold cover.

Conclusion: These preliminary data based on the canine model suggested that the vocalis muscle, while in a relaxed state in vitro, is significantly stiffer and more viscous than the vocal fold cover during vibration at phonatory frequencies. For large-amplitude vocal fold vibration involving the medial portion of the TA muscle, such distinct differences in viscoelastic properties of different layers of the vocal fold should be taken into account in multi-layered biomechanical models of phonation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of the canine vocal fold cover (mucosa or lamina propria), illustrating three distinct anatomic locations for rheometric measurements: anterior portion, middle portion, and posterior portion ( L = length of the membranous vocal fold).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The principle of linear simple-shear rheometry for quantifying the viscoelastic shear properties of tissue specimens at phonatory frequencies (after Chan and Rodriguez [16]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Elastic shear modulus (G’) of the canine vocal fold cover (n = 5 for the anterior and posterior portions; n = 6 for the middle portion), canine vocalis muscle (medial thyroarytenoid muscle) (n = 6), and the human vocal fold cover based on Chan and Rodriguez [16] (n = 7).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Dynamic viscosity (η’) of the canine vocal fold cover (n = 5 for the anterior and posterior portions; n = 6 for the middle portion), canine vocalis muscle (medial thyroarytenoid muscle) (n = 6), and the human vocal fold cover based on Chan and Rodriguez [16] (n = 7).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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