title: Functional assessment of the ex vivo vocal folds through biomechanical testing: A review.
abstract: The human vocal folds are complex structures made up of distinct layers that vary in cellular and extracellular composition. The mechanical properties of vocal fold tissue are fundamental to the study of both the acoustics and biomechanics of voice production. To date, quantitative methods have been applied to characterize the vocal fold tissue in both normal and pathologic conditions. This review describes, summarizes, and discusses the most commonly employed methods for vocal fold biomechanical testing. Force-elongation, torsional parallel plate rheometry, simple-shear parallel plate rheometry, linear skin rheometry, and indentation are the most frequently employed biomechanical tests for vocal fold tissues and each provide material properties data that can be used to compare native tissue to diseased or treated tissue. Force-elongation testing is clinically useful, as it allows for functional unit testing, while rheometry provides physiologically relevant shear data, and nanoindentation permits micrometer scale testing across different areas of the vocal fold as well as whole organ testing. Thoughtful selection of the testing technique during experimental design to evaluate a hypothesis is critical to optimize biomechanical testing of vocal fold tissues.
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeswani
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roof
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Paulo G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobieraj
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Milan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States. Electronic address: ryan.branski@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Branski
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Biomechanics; Elastic modulus; Mechanical stress; Nanoindentation; Phonation; Shear strength; Vocal folds; Voice