L. Carol Gracco PhD, Clarence T. Sasaki MD

The role of the supraglottic larynx in voice production is poorly understood. Patients who undergo horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy provide an opportunity to resolve this question. At the heart of ongoing controversy is the notion among surgeons that sparing the sound source conserves the vocal product. Others would argue that altering the vocal tract near the sound source is not without consequence. An analysis of acoustic, aerodynamic, perceptual, and videostroboscopie images was correlated with area functions of the vocal tract. Area functions represent precise measures taken from three-dimensional reconstructions based on preoperative and postoperative scans of the vocal tract from magnetic resonance images. These measures demonstrate the essential role of the supraglottic larynx and pharynx in shaping the acoustic vocal product.