Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
Published on: December 1, 2023
Phantom larynx: a clinical survey
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, UK. malr@doctors.org.uk
Abstract:
A phantom phenomenon has been reported to occur after amputation or deafferentation of a limb or another body part. A phantom phenomenon following laryngectomy has not been described before. In the search for a phantom phenomenon, we carried out a retrospective clinical study on 35 post total laryngectomy patients who attended the Head and Neck Clinic of Southmead Hospital, Bristol (a tertiary referral centre for head and neck cancer), comparing them to a control group of 57 patients who attended the same clinic but had not undergone a total laryngectomy. The main outcome measures were, charting subjective sensation of phantom larynx and eliciting phantom phenomenon by cutaneous stimulation of neck and face. In 24 (69%) patients, there was either a subjective sensation of phantom or a positive response to cutaneous stimulation. There was no response to cutaneous stimulation in the control group. In conclusion, a phantom phenomenon does appear to occur after total laryngectomy.
Related Concept Videos
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Pharynx
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities:
The Hyoid Bone
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract IV: Auscultation
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.

