MORPHOLOGIC ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ANCHORING FIBERS IN NORMAL VOCAL FOLD BASEMENT-MEMBRANE ZONE

Anchoring fibers are collagenous structures that help secure basal cel ls to the superficial layer of the lamina propria (SLLP). Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and organization of these anchoring fibers at the human vocal fold basement membrane z one. This study shows that anchoring fibers loop from the lamina densa through the lamina propria and reattach to the lamina densa. Collagen fibers from the lamina propria appear to pass through the loops creat ed by the anchoring fibers. This relationship partially explains how t he epidermis secures itself to the SLLP during vibration resulting fro m phonation. The population density of anchoring fibers and genetics i s discussed.