Morphological and functional aspects of the senile larynx.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the senile larynx, considering morphological aspects during respiration and functional aspects during phonation, comparing it to the young adult larynx.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted of 100 laryngeal images of adults without vocal complaints, 50 laryngeal images of young adults aged 20-45 years and 50 laryngeal images of elderly individuals aged 65-85 years, of both genders. Images were produced by means of a rigid endoscope and stroboscopy. The morphological aspects analyzed were: laryngeal symmetry, vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process and glottic proportion. The functional aspects analyzed were glottic closure, laryngeal vestibule behavior, phase (timing of closure) and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures.


RESULTS
Significant differences between the young adult larynx and the geriatric larynx were found for the following parameters: vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process, glottic proportion, phase and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggests that the geriatric larynx differs from the young adult larynx in many characteristic aspects.
Pontes
Paulo
P
Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Department, Centro de Estudos da Voz (CEV), São Paulo, Brazil.
Yamasaki
Rosiane
R
Behlau
Mara
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014202:Tremor / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology