Week 6: Human Anatomy Is Complicated

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog. 

Introduction: 

This week, I began modeling the human larynx. From literature review, models of the larynx used only a general shape. The highly complex bones, muscles, and nerves that surrounded the larynx were not included. As such, my model of the larynx will use an accurate approximation. The image included below serves as my reference. 

Figure 1: Model of the Larynx. Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.09.010. 

Vocal Folds: 

This week, I started by modeling the vocal folds. The vocal folds are removable from the larynx, so that the larynx is reusable, and folds with different diseases (cysts, polyps, etc…) can be swapped in for practice. Both the inverse mold and the silicone model are shown below. 

Figure 2: Model of vocal fold and inverse mold   

Larynx: 

I also have started on my model of the larynx with Solid Edge, using Figure 1 as a general reference. The main feature of the larynx is the grooves near the posterior end, where the removable vocal folds can be slid in securely. 

Future Goals: 

Next week, after meeting with my mentor, I hope to finalize my model of the larynx. Additionally, I need to figure out how to implement the cyst onto the flat edge of the vocal fold, since that requires making a fluid-filled ball of silicone. My mentor’s lab has done something similar, so I hope to find some clues there. 

Thank you for reading! 

Until next time, 

Derrick Liu 

Sources:  

Thiago Victal Saliba, Rui Sérgio Monteiro de Barros, Development and validation of a 3D laryngeal model in surgical skills training. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.09.010.