What is it about?
Using dye techniques to display the distribution of the lining cells of the "normal" larynx (from non-smokers). By dividing the larynges into halves and trapping the halves between perspex plates, it is possible, using Indian ink on cellophane, to trace areas of squamous epithelium and then to transfer the tracings to graph paper where measurements can be determined. Squamous epithelium on the vocal cords, the height of the mucosa over the vocal process of the artytenoid cartilage and the height of the band of squamous epithelium over the posterior commissure was measured.
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Why is it important?
Morphometry in relation to the human larynx has been limited due to the cartilaginous nature of this organ and the previous painstaking histological methods used to map the distribution of the lining cells. Thanks to dye techniques and the tracing of different areas, measurements of areas of the larynx lined by squamous epithelium (of particular interest in this study) could be defined. Measurement of the lining epithelia in the larynx is important in the classification or laryngeal carcinoma.
Perspectives
It is gratifying, not only to be able to display the distribution of the lining cells of the larynx but to be able to measure areas in both normal (non-smokers) and in cases of laryngeal carcinoma. An increase in the areas of squamous cells (squamous metaplasia) is of particular interest since most cancers that occur in the larynx are squamous in type. This suggests that squamous metaplasia may well be a precursor to squamous carcinoma.
Irene Gregory Wilkinson
Institute of Biomedical Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Morphometry of the epithelial lining of the human larynx., Clinical Otolaryngology, February 1978, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1978.tb00660.x.
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