Measurement of specific laryngeal muscle function by ultrasound

Abstract

Ultrasonic dimension gauges were implanted in the crico-arytenoideus dorsalis muscle in a mature horse. Resting and contracted muscle length and average contraction rate were measured serially in the conscious state over a period of 25 days. Results suggest that specific laryngeal muscle function in the horse may be defined with this approach. Since man and horse are both known to suffer from laryngeal hemiplegia, this experimental preparation may help provide information of benefit to both species.

Correlation between isometric force and intramuscular pressure in rabbit tibialis anterior muscle with an intact anterior compartment

“…Human skeletal muscle functional studies are notable for the variety of methodological approaches used. Functional evaluation of human muscle may range in scale from the highly invasive direct measurement of active8, 18 or passive13 muscle force to non‐invasive or minimally invasive inference of function based on the electromyogram (EMG9, 23) or a muscle image (ultrasound3, 15 and magnetic resonace imaging12, 25). For the purposes of assigning cause–effect relationships between muscle function and individual performance, it is desirable to obtain direct muscle function measurements in a clinically acceptable manner.…”