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Regional variations and sex-related differences of stiffness in human tracheal ligaments

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Abstract

Purpose

There have been numerous studies focused on the stiffness of tracheal cartilage. However, no research has been conducted specifically on the annular ligament, nor have any regional differences in the annular ligament been identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stiffness of the ligaments present between the thyroid, cricoid and tracheal cartilages.

Methods

The ligaments were identified in the cervical region of living subjects with ultrasonography. The stiffness of the ligaments was measured from the body surface using a digital palpation device (MyotonPRO). Since it is impossible to measure the entire trachea in a living subject, an additional measurement was performed on human cadavers.

Results

Both in vivo and cadaveric investigations found that the stiffness of annular ligaments decreased gradually from the superior to inferior parts. There was no difference in the stiffness between males and females in the superior part of the trachea. However, the stiffness of the middle and inferior parts was predominantly higher in females than in males. Furthermore, males showed significant differences in stiffness between the superior and middle parts, while females showed no significant differences.

Conclusion

These results reveal that there are regional and sex-related differences in the stiffness of human tracheal ligaments.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge which ultimately improves patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude. This study was supported by a grant from the Nitto Foundation (2021-37).

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Nitto Foundation (2021-37).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan

    Kaori Fukushige, Tomohito Okubo, Xiyao Shan, Takao Takeuchi & Munekazu Naito

  2. Department of General Thoracic, Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan

    Tomohito Okubo & Noriyuki Misaki

Authors
  1. Kaori Fukushige
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  2. Tomohito Okubo
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  4. Takao Takeuchi
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  5. Noriyuki Misaki
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  6. Munekazu Naito
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Contributions

Study conception: K.F, M.N. Acquisition of data: K.F., T.O., X.S., T.T. Experimental Skill: K.F., T.O., X.S. Analysis: K.F. Writing: K.F., N.M., M.N. Funding acquisition: K.F., M.N. Critical review and revision: M.N.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaori Fukushige.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Aichi Medical University (permit number: 2022-110, 2021-072).

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Fukushige, K., Okubo, T., Shan, X. et al. Regional variations and sex-related differences of stiffness in human tracheal ligaments. Surg Radiol Anat (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03361-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03361-6

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