Age-Related Changes in Human Laryngeal Nerves

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We sought to perform a morphometric analysis of myelinated fibers from laryngeal nerves with the aim of verifying quantitative changes due to the aging process. METHODS: A 1-cm fragment was collected from the superior laryngeal nerves and recurrent laryngeal nerves from 12 cadavers during autopsy. The sample was divided in two groups: an adult group (aged <60 years) and an elderly group (aged ≥60 years). RESULTS: The total number of myelinated fibers from the superior laryngeal nerves was similar in both groups (adult group = 9017 ± 1692, elderly group = 7918 ± 1624; P = 0.79). The adult group had a higher total number of myelinated fibers in the recurrent laryngeal nerves than that of the elderly group (adult group = 3276 ± 383, elderly group = 2381 ± 669; P = 0.005), as well as a higher total number of fibers in the laryngeal nerves (both superior and recurrent) than the elderly group ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The adult group has a higher total number of myelinated fibers in the laryngeal nerves than the elderly group.