title: Posterior cricoarytenoid bellies: relationship between their function and histology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complete physiological information about human posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) is essential and is not only of basic science interest but also could lead directly to understanding phonation and many clinical issues in neurolaryngology. The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the histochemical and morphological properties to know contractile muscle fiber characteristics of two bellies of the PCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PCAs were harvested from the total laryngectomy simples. Serial transverse sections of the two PCA bellies were performed and studied by immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two separate muscle bellies were always identified within 15 PCA. The following muscle fiber types were observed: I, I-IIA, and IIA. Comparisons of the vertical and horizontal bellies of the PCA reveled differences in the fiber-type composition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, the PCA should be considered as a combination of two functional subunits, which significantly differ in their muscle fiber-type composition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, North Hospital, Saint-Etienne University Hospital Center, Saint-Etienne, France. asanov1@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asanau
authors.forename: Andrei P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Timoshenko
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prades
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galusca
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Léonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Féasson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000737:chemistry; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000737:chemistry; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains