Angiographic study of the superior laryngeal artery.

The study goals were to demonstrate the superior laryngeal artery in detail with angiograms and to understand its vasculature three-dimensionally. Three fresh cadavers were totally injected with lead oxide-gelatin mixture. The larynx with the surrounding tissue was resected and radiographed stereoscopically with soft X ray system. We get informed consent from a person in question and the bereaved family. The superior laryngeal artery was divided into the ascending and descending branches. The ascending branch supplied the epiglottis chiefly from the ventral surface, and anastomosed with branches of the lingual artery. The descending branch supplied the vestibular and vocal folds, muscles of the larynx and mucosa over the muscles, and anastomosed with distal branches of the superior thyroid artery. Stereographic angiograms and macroscopic observation enabled us to understand vasculature of the superior laryngeal artery.