A 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTIVE STUDY OF THE LAYER STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN VOCAL CORD

The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the detailed histolog ical structure of the human larynx and to clarify the cause of adaptat ion in high-frequency vibrations using three-dimensional histological reconstructions of human true vocal cords. In a first series of studie s, 54 intact adult larynges were obtained from 398 human cavaders with known histories. Four of these laryngeal specimens were fixed in 10% formalin. Three of these were decalcified and embedded in paraffin and the other in Technovit-7100. The layer structure of each larynx was i nvestigated with a three-dimensional reconstruction method using a per sonal computer. Results demonstrated that the elastic fiber layer in t he superior surface of the vocal cord was wider than that in the infer ior surface. The collagen fiber layer extends from the anterior commis sure in a posterior direction. The elastic fiber layer connected both the anterior and the posterior macula flava, while the collagen fiber layer connected the thyroid cartilage and the anterior macula flava.