Individual subject laryngeal dimensions of multiple mammalian species for biomechanical models.

OBJECTIVES This report provides a detailed knowledge base of individual subject laryngeal cartilage dimensions across multiple species to assist researchers in creating subject-specific biomechanical laryngeal models. METHODS The raw data from previous laryngeal cartilage studies were grouped by species (for human, canine, and ovine) and by cartilage (arytenoid, thyroid, and cricoid) by means of a previously reported labeling scheme. No animals were sacrificed specifically for the present study. RESULTS More than 1,500 measurements from 37 subjects are presented in 15 tables. No comparisons of the average measures were attempted, as they were done in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS By means of a database of individual subject dimensions, a laryngeal model could be designed and tested to morph from one subject to the next, predicting subject-specific results of laryngeal function. Eventually, this would lead to modeling patient-specific laryngeal disorders and the prediction of therapeutic outcomes. An electronic downloadable version of the database is made available to assist in this effort.