J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2014 Apr 1;57(2):416-25. doi: 10.1044/2013_JSLHR-S-13-0068.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore the possible structural and material property features that may facilitate complete glottal closure in an otherwise isotropic physical vocal fold model. METHOD Seven vocal fold models with different structural features were used in this study. An isotropic model was used as the baseline model, and other models were modified from the baseline model by either embedding fibers aligned along the anterior-posterior direction in the body or cover layer, adding a stiffer outer layer simulating the epithelium layer, or a combination of the 2 features. Phonation tests were performed with both aerodynamic and acoustic measurements and high-speed imaging of vocal fold vibration. RESULTS Compared with the isotropic one-layer model, the presence of a stiffer epithelium layer led to complete glottal closure along the anterior-posterior direction and strong excitation of high-order harmonics in the resulting acoustic spectra. Similar improvements were observed with fibers embedded in the cover layer, but to a lesser degree. The presence of fibers in the body layer did not yield noticeable improvements in glottal closure or harmonic excitation. CONCLUSION This study shows that the presence of collagen and elastin fibers and the epithelium layer may play a critical role in achieving complete glottal closure.
目的 本研究旨在探索可能有助于在各向同性物理声带模型中实现完全声门闭合的结构和材料特性。
方法 在本研究中使用了具有不同结构特征的 7 个声带模型。各向同性模型作为基线模型，其他模型通过在前-后方向嵌入纤维来修改基线模型，或者通过在体层或覆盖层中添加模拟上皮层的更硬的外层，或者结合这两种特征来修改。进行了气动和声测量以及声带振动的高速成像的发声测试。
结果 与各向同性单层模型相比，更硬的上皮层的存在导致在前-后方向上完全声门闭合，并在产生的声谱中强烈激发高次谐波。在覆盖层中嵌入纤维也观察到类似的改进，但程度较小。体层中的纤维的存在并没有在声门闭合或谐波激励方面产生明显的改善。
结论 本研究表明，胶原纤维和弹性纤维以及上皮层的存在可能在实现完全声门闭合方面起着关键作用。
