ABSTRACT:
To better understand both the 3D geometric structure of human laryngeal anatomy and the structural attributes of its many tissue components we have acquired high-resolution magnetic resonance (MRI) spatially calibrated images of 9 adult excised human larynx specimens. Additionally we have conducted histological analysis of those same 9 larynx specimens via H&E and Mallory’s Trichrome staining techniques to distinguish between, muscle, cartilage, collagen, elastin, and connective tissue. When analyzed together the MR images and the histological slides allow correlation between MR image contrast variation and specific tissue composition. Detailed information regarding vocal fold tissue composition and histological geometry provided by this study will enable laryngeal modelers to select more appropriate and life-like materials with which to construct synthetic vocal fold models. This study may also lay early groundwork in the field of voice research, specifically, the engineering of voice prostheses to be used in laryngoplasty procedures.

CITATION:
Nena Lundgreen Mason, Haonan Wang, Brett Heldt, BreAnna Long, Amin Nazaran, Brett Gardiner, Luke Sanders, Geoffrey Dorius, David Morton, Neal K. Bangerter, Jonathan J. Wisco  (2016), “3D Modeling of Laryngeal Structure via High-Resolution MRI Segmentation and Histological Analysis”, NRLD Technical Memo 10, www.nrld.org

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Technical Note 0000010; Ver. 1.0 (pdf)