Adriaansen F C, Verwoerd-Verhoef H L, van der Heul R O, Verwoerd C D
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1988;50(2):94-102. doi: 10.1159/000275976.
In a previous study in growing rabbits it was demonstrated that after resection of a ventral part of the cricoid the lumen of the subglottic airway developed normal size during further growth up to the adult stage. Histologic investigations of these cases suggest that a subepithelial network of elastic fibres, ventrally suspended to the thyroid and the tracheal rings, ensures the airway lumen and prevents the development of a subglottic stenosis. Resection of a ventral part of the cricoid including the adjacent soft tissue lining of the airway causes an irreversible loss of the supporting elastic layer and the formation of scar tissue resulting in a stenosis. It was concluded that the larynx and trachea can be considered as an inner, elastic tube (= conus elasticus) lined with epithelium, suspended to an outer, segmented cartilaginous tube. At the level of the subglottis an intact conus elasticus is of more importance for the normal development of the airway lumen in young rabbits than an intact ventral half of the cricoid ring.
在之前一项针对生长中兔子的研究中发现，切除环状软骨腹侧部分后，声门下气道的管腔在进一步生长直至成年阶段时会发育至正常大小。对这些病例的组织学研究表明，弹性纤维的上皮下网络腹侧悬吊于甲状腺和气管环，可确保气道管腔并防止声门下狭窄的发生。切除环状软骨腹侧部分及相邻气道软组织内衬会导致支撑弹性层不可逆转的丧失和瘢痕组织形成，从而导致狭窄。研究得出结论，可将喉和气管视为内衬上皮的内部弹性管（=弹性圆锥），悬吊于外部的节段性软骨管。在声门下水平，完整的弹性圆锥对幼兔气道管腔的正常发育比完整的环状软骨环腹侧半部更为重要。
