Age-related changes in human laryngeal nerves.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to perform a morphometric analysis of myelinated fibers from laryngeal nerves with the aim of verifying quantitative changes due to the aging process.


METHODS
A 1-cm fragment was collected from the superior laryngeal nerves and recurrent laryngeal nerves from 12 cadavers during autopsy. The sample was divided in two groups: an adult group (aged <60 years) and an elderly group (aged > or =60 years).


RESULTS
The total number of myelinated fibers from the superior laryngeal nerves was similar in both groups (adult group = 9017 +/- 1692, elderly group = 7918 +/- 1624; P = 0.79). The adult group had a higher total number of myelinated fibers in the recurrent laryngeal nerves than that of the elderly group (adult group = 3276 +/- 383, elderly group = 2381 +/- 669; P = 0.005), as well as a higher total number of fibers in the laryngeal nerves (both superior and recurrent) than the elderly group (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The adult group has a higher total number of myelinated fibers in the laryngeal nerves than the elderly group.
Tiago
Romualdo
R
Department of Otorhinolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. romualdotiago@uol.com.br
Pontes
Paulo
P
do Brasil
Osíris Camponês
OC
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*