EFFECT OF TENSION, STIFFNESS, AND AIR-FLOW ON LARYNGEAL RESISTANCE INTHE IN-VIVO CANINE MODEL

This study used an in vivo canine model of phonation to determine the effects of airflow on glottal resistance at low, medium, and high leve ls of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and superior laryngeal nerve (SL N) stimulation. Static and dynamic trials of changing airflow were use d to study the effects of airflow on glottal resistance during phonati on. As reported previously, glottal resistance varies inversely as a f unction of airflow. Increasing levels of RLN stimulation resulted in a statistically significant increase in glottal resistance for each lev el of airflow evaluated. Variation in SLN stimulation had no statistic ally significant effects on the relationship between flow and resistan ce. At airflow rates greater than 590 milliliters per second (mL/s), g lottal resistance approached 0.1 mm Hg per mL/s for all levels of RLN and SLN stimulation tested. These data support the collapsible tube mo del of phonation.