title: Laryngeal mucosa elasticity and viscosity in high and low relative air humidity.
abstract: In earlier work we showed that low relative humidity (RH) of inhaled air causes acoustic voice parameters such as jitter and shimmer to deteriorate. Other authors have shown negative effects on vocal efficiency. To explain these changes in the mechanical properties of the vocal folds, the effects of changes in RH of the air passing over microdissected mucosa of sheep larynges were studied. The dissected surface of the tissue specimen just touched Ringer solution and air of varying RH was blown over the specimen. The mucosa specimen was subjected to sinusoidal oscillations of length (strain) and the resulting force (stress) was measured. The gain and phase angle between the imposed strain and resulting stress were measured, and elasticity and viscosity were calculated. Two different air conditions were tested: air with high RH (100%) vs air with low RH (0%). Viscosity and stiffness increased significantly in both ambient conditions (P < 0.01). Dry dehydrating air resulted in a stiffer and more viscous cover than humid air (P < 0.001). These changes in mechanical characteristics may contribute to the effects on voice parameters described in earlier work.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Phoniatrics and Otorhinolaryngology, Institute of Phoniatrics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3438 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hemler
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wieneke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lebacq
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Dejonckere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012756:Sheep; D014783:Viscosity; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*