Cross-sectional area of the aditus laryngis and rima glottidis before and after transection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in the horse.

The ventral-to-dorsal height of the rima glottidis was measured from lateral pharyngeal radiographs after correction for magnification. The rima glottidis height was used to enlarge accurately endoscopic photographs of 5 horses taken before and after transection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Areas of the rima glottidis and aditus laryngis were measured, using a computerized digitizer. Mean area of the aditus laryngis was 1,908 mm2 before neurectomy and 1,346 mm2 after neurectomy (P = 0.025). Mean area of the rima glottidis was 1,198 mm2 before neurectomy and 805 mm2 after neurectomy (P = 0.025). Mean width of the rima glottidis was 31 mm before neurectomy and 20 mm after neurectomy (P = 0.001). Significant differences were not found between the pre- and postneurectomy heights of the rima glottidis.