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3D Modeling of Geometric Structure and Tissue Composition of Human Laryngeal Anatomy via High‐Resolution MRI Segmentation and Histological Analysis
Author(s) -
Mason Nena Lundgreen,
Wang Haonan,
Heldt Brett,
Long BreAnna,
Nazaran Amin,
Reid ReyLynn,
Bangerter Neal K.,
Wisco Jonathan J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1046.2
Subject(s) - phonation , larynx , anatomy , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , vocal folds , pathology , biomedical engineering , radiology , audiology
Many patients that seek treatment from otolaryngologists or speech pathologists are afflicted with complications pertaining to the anatomy of the phonatory neuromuscular system. In many clinical research scenarios it is appropriate to use a model to understand the anatomy and physiology of the body when the particular area of interest is difficult or dangerous to access in vivo. The anatomical location of the human vocal apparatus renders it particularly difficult to access for the measurement pathological changes, damage assessment, and surgical intervention in patients suffering from phonation related pathologies. Because of it's difficult to access location, laryngeal modeling is a valuable tool for the advancement of modern phonosurgery. To better understand both the 3D geometric structure of human laryngeal anatomy and the structural attributes of its many tissue components, we have acquired high‐resolution magnetic resonance (MRI) spatially calibrated images of 9 adult excised human larynx specimens. Additionally, we have conducted histological analysis of our larynx specimens via H&E and Mallory's Trichrome staining techniques to distinguish between, muscle, cartilage, collagen, elastin, and connective tissue. When analyzed together the MR images and the histological slides allow correlation between MR image contrast variation and specific tissue composition. Data regarding vocal fold tissue composition and histological geometry provided by this study will enable laryngeal modelers to select more appropriate and life‐like materials with which to construct synthetic vocal fold models. This study may also lay groundwork in the field of voice research, specifically, the engineering of voice prostheses to be used in laryngoplasty procedures. Support or Funding Information NIH Grant R01 102031A 3D model of human laryngeal structures generated via segmentation of high resolution magnetic resonance images