An Investigation of Cricoarytenoid Joint Mechanics Using Simulated Muscle Forces

Rotational and translational stiffnesses were calculated for arytenoid motion about the cricoarytenoid joint. These calculations were obtained from measurements on five excised human larynxes. For each larynx, known forces were applied to the arytenoid cartilage, and three markers were tracked as a function of applied forces. Assuming rigid body motion, arytenoid translations and rotations were computed for each applied force. Translational stiffnesses were obtained by plotting force versus displacement, and rotational stiffnesses were calculated by plotting torque versus angular rotation. A major finding was that the translational stiffness along the anterior-posterior direction was three times as great as the translational stiffnesses in the other two directions. This nonisotropic nature of the stiffnesses may be an important consideration for phonosurgeons who wish to avoid subluxation of the cricoarytenoid joint in patients. The computed rotational and translational stiffnesses currently are being implemented in 2D and 3D models. These stiffness parameters play a vital role in prephonatory glottal shaping, which in turn exerts a majorinfluence on all aspects of vocal fold vibration, including fundamental frequency, voice quality, voice register, and phonation threshold pressure.