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. 2014 Jul;28(4):406-10.
doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2013.12.003. Epub 2014 Feb 1.

Young's modulus of canine vocal fold cover layers

Dinesh K Chhetri  1 , Sassan Rafizadeh  2
Affiliations

Young's modulus of canine vocal fold cover layers

Dinesh K Chhetri et al. J Voice. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to measure the elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of canine vocal fold cover layers.

Study design: Basic science study.

Methods: Cover layers from vocal folds of eight canine larynges were dissected. Cover layer samples from the mid-membranous, medial vocal fold surface area were used to measure material stiffness using a previously validated indentation method. Cover layers from two human larynges were also measured as control references. Superior and inferior medial cover layers were measured separately. A total of 15 superior medial surface and 17 inferior medial surface specimens from the canine and two and four specimens, respectively, from the human were tested.

Results: In the canine larynges, the mean Young's modulus of the superior medial surface was 4.2 kPa (range, 3.0-5.4 kPa; standard deviation [SD], 0.6 kPa) and of the inferior medial surface was 6.8 kPa (range, 5.4-8.5 kPa; SD, 0.8 kPa). Measurements on human cover samples were 5.0 kPa (range, 4.7-5.4 kPa; SD, 0.5 kPa) and 7.0 kPa (range, 6.7-7.3 kPa; SD, 0.3 kPa) for the superior medial and inferior medial surface, respectively. Human measurements were similar to the previously validated measurements. There was no difference between the stiffness measurements in the human and canine cover layer samples (P>0.05).

Conclusions: The elastic stiffness (Young's modulus) of the canine and human vocal fold cover layers is similar. Findings support the use of canine larynx as an externally valid model to study voice production.

Keywords: Indentation; Laryngeal physiology; Vocal fold; Young's modulus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Indentation apparatus for measuring the elastic modulus of vocal fold cover layers, showing (1) force transducer, (2) indenter, (3) normal saline to keep specimen moist, and (4) vocal fold cover layer specimen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Coronal section of ex vivo canine vocal fold illustrating the estimated Young’s modulus of (a) superior medial surface (superior 3–4 mm of the medial vocal fold surface cover layer) and (b) inferior medial surface (inferior 3–4 mm of the medial vocal fold surface cover layer).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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