Fracture Toughness of Vocal Fold Tissue: A Preliminary Study

A customized mechanical tester that slices thin, soft samples was used to measure the fracture toughness of vocal fold tissue. Porcine vocal fold lamina propria was subjected to quasi-static, guillotine-like tests at three equally distanced regions along the anterior-posterior direction. The central one-third where high-velocity collisions between vocal folds occur was found to have the maximum fracture toughness. In contrast, the anterior one-third featured a lower toughness. Fracture toughness can be indicative of the risk of benign and malignant lesions in vocal fold tissue.