Abstract
The distribution of capillaries in relation to muscle fiber types in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (TA and PCA muscles in this paper) was investigated in comparison with common skeletal muscle (EDL muscle) in rats. The alkaline phosphatase stain method was applied to visualize the capillary, and the myosin ATPase stain method was applied to distinguish muscle fiber types. The mean cross section area of muscle fiber in EDL was greater than that of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles, though the ratio of capillaries per muscle fibers (C/F) in the PCA was significantly greater than that of the EDL. The capillary density (CD), number of capillaries per one sq mm, in the TA and PCA muscles was significantly greater than that of the EDL. These results suggest that the intrinsic laryngeal muscles are capillary rich in order to supply sufficient oxygen.
