Aging histological changes in the cartilages of the cricoarytenoid joint

Dedivitis RA, Abrahao M, Simoes MJ, Mora OA, Cervantes O. Aging histological changes in the cartilages of thecricoarytenoid joint. Acta Cir Bras [serial online] 2004 Mar-Apr;19(2). Available from URL: http://www.scielo.br/acb.ABSTRACT - Purpose : Analysis of ossification, bone marrow formation, perichondrium thickness, muscle fibers,collagen fibers and elastic fibers quantities of cricoid and arytenoid cartilages. Design: Correlation morphologicstudy. Methods: Twenty-four cricoarytenoid joints were obtained from Caucasian male fresh cadavers divided intothree groups with eight specimens in each: group I – adolescents, from 15 to 20; group II – adults, from 25 to 35; andgroup III – elderly, from 60 to 75. The specimens were stained with H-E; trichrome; Picrosirius; and elastic stain.Histometry was performed for quantitative analysis. Bonferroni Test, Fisher Test and the Variance Analysis wereused. Results: At the microscopic analysis, the group I specimens presented typical hyaline cartilage, thinperichondrium, bulky muscle fibers and were surrounded by collagen fibers. In group II, there were ossification insmall well defined central areas of four specimens, with lamellar bone tissue. In two of these cases there were centralbone cavity full of fat tissue. The other parameters were similar to group I. In group III, most part of hyaline cartilagewas replaced by typical lamellar bone tissue with poorly outlined haversian systems. Hematopoietic tissue wasnoted in six cases and fat tissue in the other two. Perichondrium was thicker. Small muscle fibers were smaller andsurrounded by collagen in great quantity. Elastic fibers were present in small quantity in the outer portion ofperichondrium in all the groups. Conclusions: In spite of its lack in adolescence, ossification occurs in cricoid andarytenoid cartilages during adulthood and intensifies with age; bone marrow is formed in ossification tissue withhematopoietic tissue in group III; perichondrium becomes thicker in group III; muscle tissue atrophies in group IIIand is replaced by collagen fibers; these fibers thicken with age; and elastic fibers is always present in theperichondrium in low quantity.KEY WORDS – Cricoid cartilage. Arytenoid cartilage. Age groups. Cadaver.