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. 2024 Apr 15:13:115.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.144481.2. eCollection 2024.

Morphometry of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and piriform sinus: An anatomical study

Rajanigandha Vadgaonkar  1 , Ashwin R Rai  1 , Chettiar Ganesh Kumar  1 , B V Murlimanju  1 , Mangala M Pai  1 , Latha V Prabhu  1 , Amit Agrawal  2
Affiliations

Morphometry of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and piriform sinus: An anatomical study

Rajanigandha Vadgaonkar et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Background: The goal was to measure the piriform sinus, epiglottis, and thyroid cartilage in our sample population.

Methods: This study included 22 adult embalmed cadavers available in the Department of Anatomy. Dimensions were measured using a digital Vernier caliper.

Results: The mean height of the thyroid laminae was 27 ± 1.4 mm at the right side and 25.5 ± 1.4 mm at the left side. Mean width of the thyroid lamina was 27.1 ± 1.3 mm at the right side and 27.4 ± 0.9 mm at the left side. The mean thickness of thyroid cartilage was found to be 4.4 ± 0.4 mm and 3.9 ± 0.5 mm over the right and left sides. The mean length, width and thickness of the epiglottis were 29.1 ± 0.5 mm, 22.2 ± 0.6 mm and 2.6 ± 0.3 mm correspondingly. The height, width and thickness of the right piriform sinus were 25 ± 0.5 mm, 14.2 ± 0.5 mm and 12.6 ± 0.5 mm, the same parameters were 25.3 ± 1.3 mm, 15.1 ± 0.7 mm and 13.3 ± 0.4 mm for the left side.

Conclusions: The height and thickness of the thyroid cartilage were greater on the right side than on the left side (p<0.05). It was statistically observed that the width and thickness were greater on the left side than on the right side (p < 0.05). The data about the height, width and thickness of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and piriform sinus are essential during the laryngeal and other neck surgeries. They guide in the preoperative positioning, predicting the difficulty of intraoperative exposure and retractor pulling.

Keywords: endoscopy; morphometry; otorhinolaryngology; piriform sinus.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing interests were disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Morphometry of the thyroid cartilage of larynx in the cadaveric specimen.
a. Photograph of the ventral view of thyroid cartilage showing the measurement of height (AB) and width (CD); b. dorsal aspect of the thyroid cartilage showing the measurement of thickness (EF*).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. The cadaveric larynx showing the epiglottis.
The measurements are represented as AB: length of the epiglottis, CD: width of the epiglottis, EF: thickness of the epiglottis.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. The cadaveric piriform sinus (PS).
The measurements performed in this study are represented as AB: supero inferior diameter of the piriform sinus, CD: medio lateral diameter of the piriform sinus, EF: antero posterior diameter of the piriform sinus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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