In some clinical situations or during laryngoplastic procedures, it is important the knowledge of the dimensions of the vocal folds. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation existence among the individuals' characteristics studied as height, weight, age and sex with the macroscopic dimensions of the membranous portion of the vocal folds. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental. METHODS: We studied 24 cadavers (13 men and 11 women) submitted to autopsy from April and October of 2001. Of each individual, we obtained height, weight and age with subsequent removal of the larynx. We used digital pachimetry for the measures of the dimensions of the vocal folds. RESULTS: We did not find difference between the vocal folds right and left in length (p = 0,91), width (p = 0,93) or thickness (p = 0,72). The masculine vocal folds were larger (p <0,001) and wider (p = 0,04) that the feminine ones, and it did not have difference between the thickness (p = 0,11). We observed a strong correlation (r=0,76) between the individuals' height and the length of the vocal folds. We did not find correlation between height and width (r=0,36) or thickness (r=0,39) of the vocal folds. CONCLUSIONS: Males vocal folds were larger and wider than females'. The length of the membranous portion of the vocal folds varied in function of the individuals' height.
body height; larynx; vocal cords; anatomy; histology
