THE STRUCTURES AT THE ANTERIOR COMMISSURE OF THE LARYNX - BIOMECHANICAL AND CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The vocal ligaments and vocalis muscles insert at the anterior commiss ure of the thyroid cartilage. The biomechanical function of the connec tive tissue of the insertion is to equalise the different elastic modu les of tendons and cartilage or bone. Structures of the insertion of p lica vocalis at the anterior commissure are clinically important consi dering the spread of carcinoma that can grow along the vocal ligament in a ventral direction. The lack of perichondrium or periosteum in the area of insertion, ossification of the thyroid cartilage and the asso ciated vascularisation of the skeleton allow the invasion of tumours i n the thyroidal skeleton.