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Abstract: Forty autopsy specimens of larynx (20 males, 20 females) in the age group 20 to 40 years, from Haryana were
subjected to morphometric analysis of thyroid and cricoid cartilages. A total of 29 measurements were taken to see normal
variation, sex differences and bilateral asymmetry. Except for thyroid angle and length of left inferior cornu, all the
measurements were more in males as compared to females. Mean thyroid angle was 85.25o+9.54o in males and
97.85o+10.35o in females. Thyroid lamina was placed more obliquely with respect to horizontal plane in females as compared
to males. Bilateral asymmetry, though present in majority of specimens, was insignificant. However, thyroid angle was
deviated to one or other side in 25 % specimens. A significant correlation was observed between height of individual and
length of thyroid lamina, height of cricoid arch and transverse diameter of cricoid cartilage.
Introduction: larynx with the help of vernier caliper (to the nearest
The increasing application of sophisticated 0.1 mm) and goniometer. The cartilages were
electrophysiological, radiological and surgical weighed on a single pan electronic balance (sensitive
methods to the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal to 0.01 gm.) after drying with blotting paper. In addition
disorders requires a profound knowledge of the size to weight, 27 other measurements were made after
and proportion of human larynx and its cartilaginous selecting unequivocal and well defined points (Fig. 1)
components. Recent interest in the condition of as follows: 1 and 2 - Length (height) of left & right
subglottic stenosis and post- intubational stenosis of thyroid lamina (maximum vertical distance from upper
the lower respiratory tract(Bishop, 1984) prompted us
Fig.1
to ascertain the measurements of laryngeal cartilages
.Although some information was available on the
dimensions of the human laryngeal cartilages in the
Western population, e.g. Europeon (Chievitz, 1882),
Italian (Balboni, 1955) German (Minigerode, 1955;
Eckel et al, 1994), Polish (Malinowski, 1967), North
Americans (Maue and Dickson, 1971) and Nigerians
(Ajmani, 1990), information in Indian population was
scanty (Longia and Saxena, 1980) (Harjeet and Jit,
1992). Hence the present work was done on the
morphometry of thyroid and cricoid cartilages in
autopsy specimens.
37.92 35.25 27.40 22.20 26.22 19.75 29.20 24.60 27.50 22.70
Length of Lamina 25.30 19.30
+4.42 +3.10 +2.47 +2.85 +2.17 +1.17 +9.60 +6.00 +2.96 +3.71
34.89 32.17 41.90 31.20 37.82 28.27 29.60 26.20 36.80 30.00
Breadth of Lamina 41.90 30.20
+4.08 +4.27 +3.38 +2.73 +2.69 +1.82 +8.00 +4.90 +4.84 +6.50
Length of Superior 20.70 20.92 12.90 13.10 14.07 12.04 15.40 16.10 19.10 13.10
cornu +2.99 +3.01 +2.94 +2.35 +3.17 +2.23 +4.80 +4.70 +4.49 +3.95
T Length of Inferior 18.35 17.35 8.30 7.40 6.31 5.17 9.50 8.70 8.04 7.20
H cornu +3.11 +2.67 +1.27 +1.24 +1.39 +1.32 +4.00 +3.50 +1.60 +2.29
Y Depth of Superior 11.68 10.20 9.00 6.40 11.87 8.28 9.50 6.40 11.20 9.70
R Thyroid Notch +0.97 +0.51 +1.82 +1.33 +2.38 +1.36 +3.00 +2.50 +2.75 +2.73
O 89.92O 106.38O 78.13O 90.15O 78.70O 106.10 O 85.25 O 97.85 O
Thyroid angle
I +13.67 O +28.36O +11.60 O +10.36O +10.20O +14.40 O +9.54 O +10.35 O
D Anterior Thyroid 22.32 17.25 18.50 15.80 15.88 11.77 16.40 13.40
21.50 15.80 37.10 26.04
Height +7.38 +6.58 +2.54 +1.07 +1.74 +1.39 +2.66 +3.20
Dorsal Thyroid 44.82 37.25 43.90 36.00 38.96 30.40 38.80 34.00
49.00 45.50 45.50 38.90
Height +6.45 +7.47 +4.63 +3.84 +4.49 +2.67 +6.97 +6.34