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This
video shows the function
of a
larynx
which has paralysis of both
true vocal cords. The patient was
a very heavy smoker and developed lung cancer. First, the patient's left
cord became paralyzed and then his right. As can be seen in the video,
the cords quiver but do not consistently touch each other during
phonation. The patient has an
adductor muscle
paralysis (the
true vocal cords
are
lateral
and not touching in midline). In this type of paralysis, the patient
has a good airway but a very weak voice. If the nerves (recurrent laryngeal nerves)
to the vocal cords were
completely transected, the patient would have primarily an
Abductor Muscle
paralysis with the cords touching each other
in the midline. In this case, the patient's voice would be strong but
he would have severe airway obstruction.
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