Age-related changes in the hyoepiglottic ligament: functional implications based on histopathologic study

Autor: Motohiro Sawatsubashi, Osamu Tokunaga, Masamichi Oda, Kenichiro Kusano, Shizuo Komune, Toshiro Umezaki
Rok vydání: 2010
Předmět:
Zdroj: American Journal of Otolaryngology. 31:448-452
ISSN: 0196-0709
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2009.08.003
Popis: The study aimed to identify age-related changes in the hyoepiglottic ligament associated with function of the epiglottis during swallowing and respiration.Normal postmortem laryngeal tissue samples were obtained at autopsy from 20 individuals with no history of laryngeal disease. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: those aged 81-91 years (elderly group, n = 11) and those aged 31-48 years (non-elderly group, n = 9). Specimens were subjected to Elastica van Gieson and hematoxylin-eosin staining, and characteristics of the hyoepiglottic ligament were compared between groups.The hyoepiglottic ligament extended from the epiglottis to both lingual muscles and the hyoid bone (pars lingualis and pars hyoideus). The numbers of muscle fibers (P.001), collagenous fibers (P.01), and elastic fibers (P.001) were significantly decreased in the elderly group in comparison to those in the non-elderly group.Age-related changes in the hyoepiglottic ligament appear to be associated with aspiration, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and acquired laryngomalacia in the elderly.
Databáze: OpenAIRE