The Soft Tissue/cartilage Relationship in the Laryngeal Glottis

A study of 93 larynges obtained at autopsy was made with regard to the proportion of cartilage and soft tissue in the glottis. The relevant measurements showed that the cartilage formed 48 per cent of the glottic opening and soft tissue (vibrating portion of the vocal cord) formed 52 per cent. The importance of this relationship to the classification and origin of laryngeal cancer is discussed, as is its relation to vocal cord nodules.