Analysis of the change in the "Lingual muscle-tendon-epiglottic cartilage" motor unit to understand the pathophysiology of resting aspiration.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19321
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Kitamura Kei 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (90792367)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 摂食嚥下 / 機能解剖学 / リハビリテーション / 運動器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Gross and microscopic observations of the submucosal structures from the tongue to the larynx of 20 elderly cadavers were performed. As a result, in the upper layer of the hyoepiglottic ligament, a new tendon that connects the genioglossus muscle and the epiglottic cartilage, named the glossoepiglottic tendon, was discovered. Interestingly, there was a slit between the hyoepiglottic ligament and the glossoepiglottic tendon that can separate the movements of the two fiber bundles. These results suggest that the genioglossus muscle may be involved in keeping the epiglottis upright and in its retroversion. Therefore, the function of the genioglossus muscle is a very important item to evaluate for rehabilitation of dysphagia.

Free Research Field

顕微解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、『安静時における不顕性誤嚥はなぜ起こるのか。』という疑問に対して形態学的な見解を示した報告はなく、この問題を解決するためには喉頭蓋が自立するメカニズムを明確に記す必要がある。本実験では喉頭蓋の前方に走行するオトガイ舌筋が喉頭蓋軟骨の舌面に付着していることを発見した。この構造は喉頭蓋を自立させるための唯一の筋付着であり、不顕性誤嚥を起こさないためのリハビリテーションに舌のトレーニングが重要であることを示唆している。