SENILE CHANGES IN THE LARYNGEAL MUSCULATURE

Abstract

The larynx of old persons has frequently been examined. However, a perusal of the literature reveals that no two physicians agree in their findings as far as the muscles of this organ are concerned. Kofler¹ mentioned slight atrophy of the muscles, without giving further details, and Imhofer² found that the lipoid pigment usually situated around the nuclei of the sarcolemma increased in amount in old persons. Segre³ found simple atrophy of the adductor and the abductor muscles, characterized by an increase of the nuclei of the sarcolemma and an increase in both the collagenous and the elastic fibers. This atrophy was least marked in the interarytenoid and the vocal muscles. In contrast, Imhofer⁴ did not observe an increase in elastic fibers. The cricothyroid muscles showed hypertrophy in the cases of Segre,³ which was considered compensatory, because of the atrophy of the adductor muscles. Carnevale Ricci⁵ described essentially the same conditions