Morphological and Functional Aspects of the Senile Larynx

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the senile larynx, considering morphological aspects during respiration and functional aspects during phonation, comparing it to the young adult larynx. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 100 laryngeal images of adults without vocal complaints, 50 laryngeal images of young adults aged 20-45 years and 50 laryngeal images of elderly individuals aged 65-85 years, of both genders. Images were produced by means of a rigid endoscope and stroboscopy. The morphological aspects analyzed were: laryngeal symmetry, vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process and glottic proportion. The functional aspects analyzed were glottic closure, laryngeal vestibule behavior, phase (timing of closure) and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures. RESULTS: Significant differences between the young adult larynx and the geriatric larynx were found for the following parameters: vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process, glottic proportion, phase and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures. CONCLUSION: The data suggests that the geriatric larynx differs from the young adult larynx in many characteristic aspects.