Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2002 May;45(5):501-505.

The Study for Various Movements of the Arytenoid Cartilage in Functional Diseases of Vocal Folds

• Ahn CM
• Kim ST
• Kim HC

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Functional diseases of vocal folds have shown various movements of the arytenoid cartilage, however, they have not been documented yet. We studied to find out the relationships between functional diseases of vocal folds and arytenoid movements. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 224 subjects were evaluated by using videostroboscopic examinations. The subjects were classified into three types; notch, ball, and flat types according to the patterns of arytenoid movement during phonation. Vocal fold lesions were investigated and arytenoid movements were compared between normal and disease groups.
RESULTS
The arytenoid movements of notch type were more than ball type or flat type in both normal and disease groups. The disease group showed many asymmetric movements of arytenoid cartilage when compared with the normal group. Vocal nodule and vocal polyp showed asymmetric movements of arytenoid cartilage.
Conclusions
We found that the functional diseases of vocal folds were related to the asymmetric movements of arytenoid cartilage. We suggest that the various movements of arytenoid cartilage should be considered when functional diseases of vocal folds are examined.

Keyword

Vocal fold; Arytenoid cartilage

MeSH Terms

Arytenoid Cartilage*
Phonation
Polyps
Vocal Cords*