Epithelium of the human vocal fold as a vibrating tissue

The human adult vocal fold mucosa, especially, superficial layer of the lamina propria (Reinke's space) has attracted notice as an important vibrating structure. However, fine structures of the stratified squamous epithelium of the human adult vocal fold, which is another histological component of the mucosa, remain enigmatic.

Three normal human adult vocal folds and epiglottises and three newborn vocal folds were investigated. Observations using transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy including immunohistochemistry were performed.

The most obvious feature of the epithelium of the human adult vocal folds was that the intercellular spaces between adjacent epithelial cells were large (984 ± 186 nm) compared with the stratified squamous epithelium of the human adult epiglottis and the human newborn vocal fold. Even though intercellular spaces between adjacent epithelial cells of the human adult vocal fold were large, desmosomes at the junctions of two adjacent epithelial cells made firm intercellular adhesion. Tonofilaments composed of the bundles of intermediate filaments anchored to the desmosomes. Desmosomes formed a continuous cytoskeletal network throughout the epithelial cells and epithelium of the human adult vocal fold. In addition, a great deal of E-cadherin (adhesive glycoprotein) was present between epithelial cells especially the lower half of the stratified squamous epithelium of the human adult vocal fold.

From the functional morphological point of view, stratified squamous epithelium of the human adult vocal fold seems to form a structural framework of tensile strength with pliability suitable structure for vibration.