Growth and Development of the Human Vocal Fold Mucosa

Abstract

1. Newborns already have immature maculae flavae at the same sites as adults. They are composed of dense masses of cells including vocal fold stellate cells, whereas extracellular matrix components are sparse. Vocal fold stellate cells in the newborn maculae flavae have already started synthesizing extracellular matrices. 2. During infancy, the extracellular matrices synthesized in the maculae flavae extend to the lamina propria of the vocal fold mucosa to initiate the formation of the three-dimensional extracellular matrix structure of the human vocal fold mucosa. 3. During childhood, maculae flavae containing vocal fold stellate cells continue to synthesize extracellular matrices such as collagen, reticular, and elastic fibers and hyaluronic acid (glycosaminoglycan), which are essential for the viscoelasticity of the human vocal fold mucosa as a vibrating tissue. 4. The human vocal fold grows and develops and its layered structure matures during adolescence. 5. Human maculae flavae containing vocal fold stellate cells are involved in the metabolism of extracellular matrices essential for the viscoelasticity of the human vocal fold mucosa and are considered to be an important structure in the growth and development of the human vocal fold mucosa.