Yanagi, Eriko

Previous studies have demonstrated that the laryngeal muscles responsible for pitch variation and vocal efficiency are the cricothyroid muscles, affecting longitudinal tension of the vocal folds, and the thyroarytenoid muscles, controlling the lateral stiffness of the vocal folds. Longitudinal tension in the vocal fold is easily simulated in the excised canine larynx. The effect of the thyroarytenoid muscle, however, has not been adequately analyzed. To simulate the effect of the thyroarytenoid muscle, small balloons were placed in the paraglottic space at the level of the vocal folds in 10 excised canine laryngés. These balloons (Fogarty catheters) could be inflated in increments to simulate the effect of the thyroarytenoid muscle contraction in altering the lateral stiffness of the vocal fold. During phonation subglottic pressure, vocal fold longitudinal tension and balloon size were systematically varied. The photoglottographic and electroglottographic signals, sound intensity, and airflow rate were measured. Multiple regression analysis showed that sound intensity was directly related to subglottic pressure (p < 0.001) and inversely related to balloon size (p < 0.001). Vocal efficiency was directly related to subglottic pressure (p < 0.001). Frequency of vibration was directly related to balloon size (p < 0.05), vocal fold tension (p < 0.001), and subglottic pressure (p < 0.001). Open quotient was directly related to vocal fold tension (p < 0.01) and inversely related to balloon size (p < 0.001). Clinical implications of these results will be discussed.

Assessment of laryngeal framework surgery requires an awareness of the effect of vocal fold mass, stiffness, and position on voice production. The vibratory pattern of the vocal folds during phonation depends on the subglottic pressure as well as the mass and stiffness of the folds. To assess the effect of variations in vocal fold tension with contraction of the cricothyroid muscle on phonation, eight mongrel dog larynges were studied in vivo. Photoglottography, electroglottography, and subglottic pressure were simultaneously recorded as airflow rate and superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) stimulation were varied. Stimulation of the SLN was modified by varying the frequency and voltage of the stimulating electrical signal. Multiple regression analysis of the data revealed a direct relationship between the voltage of SLN stimulation and frequency of vibration (P < 0.001) at constant subglottic pressure. Increases in the stimulating voltage to the SLN also led to an increase in open quotient (p < 0.001), but no statistically significant change in speed quotient, subglottic pressure, or sound intensity. Changing the frequency of SLN stimulation had only a modest effect on the frequency of vibration. These results are consistent with the reported findings of an increase in frequency and open quotient with increased tension in an in vitro canine model. The glottographic measurement open quotient appears to be an estimator of cricothyroid contraction and longitudinal vocal fold tension, and may be clinically applicable to the assessment of superior laryngeal nerve injuries and laryngeal framework procedures.