Anatomy of the Cricothyroid Articulation

Differences between Men and Women

Fllho, João Aragão Ximenes MD, PhD
Bohadana, Saramira Cardoso MD, PhD
Tsuji, Domingos Hiroshi MD, PhD
Perázzio, Andréia Felix MD
Sennes, Luiz Ubirajara MD, PhD

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence — João Aragão Ximenes Filho, MD, PhD, Rua Paula Ney, 700/1202, CEP 60140-200, Fortaleza CE, Brazil

From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.

Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 114(3):p 250-252, March 2005. | DOI: 10.1177/000348940511400316

A greater difficulty in exposing the arytenoid cartilage during rotation surgeries has been observed for men. The objective of the present study was to describe the position of the cricothyroid articulation and the distance between the right and left articulations, and to compare these findings between genders. The following measurements were obtained for 16 cadavers (9 men and 7 women): angulation of the cricothyroid articulation in the cricoid ring, dimensions of the thyroid articular surface of the cricoid cartilage, and distance between the cricothyroid and cricoarytenoid articulations. The cricothyroid articulation angle was narrower in men than in women (p = .04). The major diameter of the articular facet of the thyroid cartilage was wider in men (p = .001). The longer lamina of the thyroid cartilage, as well as the more posterior position of the cricothyroid articulation, in men might explain the greater difficulty in exposing the arytenoid cartilage during laryngeal framework surgeries observed for this group of patients.