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Aging voice and the laryngeal muscle atrophy
Author(s) -
Martins Regina Helena Garcia,
Benito Pessin Adriana Bueno,
Nassib Douglas Jorge,
Branco Anete,
Rodrigues Sergio Augusto,
Matheus Selma Maria Michelim
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.25398
Subject(s) - atrophy , statistical analysis , histology , vocal folds , medicine , anatomy , cadaver , larynx , age groups , pathology , mathematics , demography , sociology , statistics
Objectives/Hypothesis To study by means of morphometric measurements the severity of vocal muscle atrophy in the elderly. Study Design Cadaver study. Setting Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu Medical School, Brazil. Subjects and Methods Thirty vocal folds were collected from necropsies distributed into three groups: aged 60 to 75 years (n = 10); aged 76 to 90 years (n = 10); and a control group aged 30 to 50 years (n = 10). Specimens for histology were obtained from the middle portion of the vocal folds. The stained specimens were analyzed using Axion Vision software (coupled to a Zeiss [Oberkochen, Germany] microscope) and used in the morphometric analyses conducted with the ImageJ software. The diameters of 200 muscle fibers from each slide were measured, and the mean values were statistically analyzed. Results The mean values of the diameters of the vocal muscle fibers of the elderly age groups were smaller than in the control: control (30–50 years: 16.389 μm); elderly (60–75 years: 14.412 μm; 76–90 years: 14.162 μm) ( P < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed between genders. Conclusion The morphometric analysis showed smaller diameters of vocal muscle fibers in the elderly when compared to controls, demonstrating the atrophy of the muscle. No statistical differences were observed between genders. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope , 125:2518–2521, 2015