The cricothyroid joint in elderly Japanese individuals.
Using 15 cricothyroid joint (CT joint) specimens obtained from donated cadavers of elderly individuals, we examined the morphologies of the ceratocricoid ligaments as well as the synovial tissue. The ligaments consistently contained abundant elastic fibers: the fibers tended to be straight on the anterior side in contrast to a mesh-like arrangement on the posterior side. Thick and/or long synovial folds were often evident in the CT joint. The synovial tissue usually contained CD68-positive macrophages, but the positive cells were often restricted to certain parts of the tissue. Factor VIII-positive capillaries were present but few in number, and CD3- or IgM-positive lymphocytes were absent in the synovial tissue. Degenerative changes in the joint cartilage, such as roughness or thinning, were often present, but no cartilage defects were evident. Therefore, in contrast to the small, non-weight-bearing joints of the musculoskeletal system, we considered the degeneration of the CT joint to be a specific, silent form of osteoarthritis. For high-pitched phonation and ossification of the laryngeal cartilage, the CT joint in elderly individuals seemed to maintain its anterior gliding and rotation with the aid of elastic fiber-rich tissues compensating for the loss of congruity between the joint cartilage surfaces.
Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan.
Masamitu
M
Serikawa
Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan. yamamotomasahito@tdc.ac.jp.
Masahito
M
Yamamoto
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Ai
A
Kawamoto
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Yukio
Y
Katori
Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan.
Hideaki
H
Kinoshita
Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan.
Satoru
S
Matsunaga
Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan.
Shin-Ichi
S
Abe
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D044466:Asian People; D002102:Cadaver; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*
Ceratocricoid ligaments; Cricothyroid joint; Elastic fibers; Immunohistochemistry; Synovial fold