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Measurements of pre- and postpubertal human larynx: a cadaver study

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Abstract

This study investigates the differences in proportion and structure of the larynx in both children and adults, as well as changes which the larynx undergoes during puberty and adolescence. Furthermore, we have tried to answer the question on the existence of laryngeal sexual dismorphism in pre-pubertal (or pubertal) children. Larynges of 20 adults (10 men and 10 women) and 34 larynges of children not more than 12 years of age were acquired from the Forensic Medicine Department of the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Methods used are based on (1) anatomical preparation, (2) anatomical description and (3) measurements performed with the use of a digital camera and a computer-aided system MULTISCAN. Statistics, the Student’s test and Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient were calculated. Results show that proportions of the larynx depend on the age of the individual. The younger the individual is the more slender the larynx would be. However, proportion is not gender-related and hence is about the same in both males and females of any given age-group. Nevertheless, basic parameters were larger in males.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology and Rehabilitation Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Kajetany, Mokra 17 Str, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Warsaw, Poland

    Jarosław Wysocki & Piotr Orszulak

  2. Institute of the Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Zgrupowania AK Kampinos Str. 1, 01-943, Warsaw, Poland

    Jarosław Wysocki

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Specialist Hospital, Tochtermann Str. 1, 26-600, Radom, Poland

    Ewa Kielska

  4. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Specialist Hospital, Tochtermann Str. 1, 26-600, Radom, Poland

    Jerzy Reymond

Authors
  1. Jarosław Wysocki
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  2. Ewa Kielska
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  3. Piotr Orszulak
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  4. Jerzy Reymond
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Correspondence to Jarosław Wysocki.

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Wysocki, J., Kielska, E., Orszulak, P. et al. Measurements of pre- and postpubertal human larynx: a cadaver study. Surg Radiol Anat 30, 191–199 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0307-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0307-8

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