A Morphological Study of Aged Larynges

Abstract

Sixty-four human larynges were investigated histologically. Their age ranged from 70 to 104 years. The following tendencies were observed in aged larynges : (1) The keratinized layer of the squamous epithelium thickens; (2) Edema develops in the superficial layer of the lamina propria in females; (3) Collagenous fibers in the superficial layer of the lamina propria become denser and fibrotic in males; (4) Elastic fibers in the superficial layer become less dense; (5) Elastic fibers in the intermediate layer of the lamina propria become less dense and atrophic in males; (6) Collagenous fibers in the deep layer of the lamina propria become denser and fibrotic in males; (7) The vocalis muscle becomes atrophic in both sexes; (8) The laryngeal glands become atrophic in both sexes; (9) The surface of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages at the cricoarytenoid joints becomes irregular and ossified; (10) The laryngeal cartilages become ossified; (11) An evident bowing of the membranous portion of the vocal folds takes place in males.