Young's modulus of canine vocal fold cover layers.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to measure the elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of canine vocal fold cover layers.


METHODS
Basic science study.


METHODS
Cover layers from vocal folds of eight canine larynges were dissected. Cover layer samples from the mid-membranous, medial vocal fold surface area were used to measure material stiffness using a previously validated indentation method. Cover layers from two human larynges were also measured as control references. Superior and inferior medial cover layers were measured separately. A total of 15 superior medial surface and 17 inferior medial surface specimens from the canine and two and four specimens, respectively, from the human were tested.


RESULTS
In the canine larynges, the mean Young's modulus of the superior medial surface was 4.2 kPa (range, 3.0-5.4 kPa; standard deviation [SD], 0.6 kPa) and of the inferior medial surface was 6.8 kPa (range, 5.4-8.5 kPa; SD, 0.8 kPa). Measurements on human cover samples were 5.0 kPa (range, 4.7-5.4 kPa; SD, 0.5 kPa) and 7.0 kPa (range, 6.7-7.3 kPa; SD, 0.3 kPa) for the superior medial and inferior medial surface, respectively. Human measurements were similar to the previously validated measurements. There was no difference between the stiffness measurements in the human and canine cover layer samples (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The elastic stiffness (Young's modulus) of the canine and human vocal fold cover layers is similar. Findings support the use of canine larynx as an externally valid model to study voice production.
Laryngeal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: dchhetri@mednet.ucla.edu.
Dinesh K
DK
Chhetri
Laryngeal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
Sassan
S
Rafizadeh
D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014732:Vibration; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*
Indentation; Laryngeal physiology; Vocal fold; Young's modulus