Development of the orohypopharyngeal cavity in normal infants and young children

• Published in: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal 2003-11, Vol.40 (6), p.606-611
• Main Authors: ROMMEL, N, BELLON, E, HERMANS, R, SMET, M, DE MEYER, A.-M, FEENSTRA, L, DEJAEGER, E, VEEREMAN-WAUTERS, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Arytenoid Cartilage - anatomy & histology; Arytenoid Cartilage - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height - physiology; Child, Preschool; Cineradiography; Dentistry; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Ent. Stomatology; Esophagogastric Junction - anatomy & histology; Esophagogastric Junction - growth & development; Female; Fluoroscopy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypopharynx - anatomy & histology; Hypopharynx - growth & development; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Nasopharynx - anatomy & histology; Nasopharynx - growth & development; Oropharynx - anatomy & histology; Oropharynx - growth & development; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Prospective Studies; Respiration; Sex Factors; Tongue - anatomy & histology; Tongue - growth & development; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 1055-6656; 1545-1569
• DOI: 10.1597/1545-1569(2003)040<0606:DOTOCI>2.0.CO;2

To study the growth of the oropharynx and hypopharynx in infants and young children by measuring the lengths of the segments between nasopharyngeal valve and tongue base, tongue base and arytenoids, and arytenoids and upper esophageal sphincter. These measurements will be used as references for developing manofluoroscopy to study deglutition in infants and young children. Twenty-three children (14 boys, 9 girls) between birth and 4 years of age were prospectively studied. All children had near normal growth parameters and were free of medical illnesses or other major medical conditions that are known to influence the pharyngeal cavity. Lateral videofluoroscopy was used to assess the pharyngeal structures during breathing. All images were digitally recorded and analyzed using a computer program designed specifically for this study. Statistically significant correlations were found between the age or height of the patient and the distance from velopharyngeal valve to tongue base and the distance from tongue base to arytenoids, showing a linear increase of the length of the oro- and hypopharynx with age and patient height. There was no significant difference in the pharyngeal distances between boys and girls. On the basis of these results, a linear regression comparison could be established to define the length of each pharyngeal segment for any age until 4 years and for the 50th percentile of height.