Comparative Histology of the Maculae Flavae of the Vocal Folds

Abstract

A light and electron microscopic comparative investigation of the maculae flavae of the vocal folds was carried out on excised human and canine adult larynges. The structure and functions of human adult maculae flavae (HMF) were found to differ from those of canine adult maculae flavae (CMF). The maculae flavae were composed of fibroblasts, elastic and collagenous fibers, and ground substance in humans and canines. The density of fibroblasts in HMF was found to exceed that in CMF. Fibroblasts in HMF were stellate with processes or spindle-shaped, and the nucleus-cytoplasm (N/C) ratio was small. Rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were well developed in the cytoplasm. Fibroblasts in CMF were oval, and the N/C ratio was large. Endoplasmic organs were poorly developed in the cytoplasm. Synthesized elastic and collagenous fibers were more numerous in HMF than CMF, and the density of both in HMF was much greater than that in CMF. Ground substance was more abundant in CMF than HMF. Apparently, CMF did not produce elastic and collagenous fibers in amounts sufficient to develop vocal ligaments. The HMF contributes to the formation of the vocal ligaments and the layered structure of human vocal folds.

Keywords

comparative histology of larynx histology of larynx larynx macula flava vocal fold

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hirano

. Phonosurgery. Basic and clinical investigation. Otologia (Fukuoka) 1975; 21(Suppl 1): 239–45.

Hirano

Sato

. Histological color atlas of the human larynx. San Diego, Calif: Singular Publishing Group, 1993.

Sato

Hirano

. Histologic investigation of the macula flava of the human vocal fold. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1995; 104: 138–43.

Sato

Hirano

. Histologic investigation of the macula flava of the human newborn vocal fold. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1995; 104: 556–62.

Sato

Hirano

. Age-related changes of the macula flava of the human vocal fold. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1995; 104: 839–44.

Nagata

. A comparative study of the layer structure of the vocal fold. A morphological investigation of 11 mammalian species. Otologia (Fukuoka) 1982; 28(Suppl 2): 699–738.

Kurita

Nagata

Hirano

. Comparative histology of mammalian vocal folds. In: Kirchner

, ed. Vocal fold histopathology. A symposium. San Diego, Calif: College Hill Press, 1986: 1–10.

Lanz

Wachsmuth

. Praktische Anatomie Hals. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag, 1955: 282.

Hirano

Sato

Nakashima

. Fibroblasts in human vocal fold mucosa. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1999; 119: 271–6.

10.

Hirano

Kurita

Nakashima

. Growth, development and aging of human vocal folds. In: Bless

Abbs

, eds. Vocal fold physiology. San Diego, Calif: College-Hill Press, 1983: 22–43.