Histomorphometric and Vascular Assessment of the Human Epiglottis Across Different Decades of Adult Life

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 449–460

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000205

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Histomorphometric and Vascular Assessment of the Human Epiglottis Across Different Decades of Adult Life

Names of Authors: Lars M. Ericsson¹, Sven O. Lindstrom²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; ²Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract:
The epiglottis undergoes continuous mechanical displacement during deglutition, requiring optimal elasticity and microvascular perfusion to preserve structural resilience. This post-mortem study quantified the age-related alterations occurring within the extracellular matrix, elastic cartilage layer, and microvascular network density of the human epiglottis. Forty-five epiglottic tissue samples were collected during medico-legal autopsies from adult donors categorized into three groups: Early Adulthood (aged 20 to 35 years, n = 15), Middle Age (aged 45 to 55 years, n = 15), and Advanced Age (aged 70 to 85 years, n = 15). Transverse sections from the lingual and laryngeal aspects were processed and stained with Verhoeff's Van Gieson (VVG) and CD31 for vascular mapping. The advanced age cohort demonstrated a significant 38.5% reduction in elastic fiber content within the perichondrium (p < 0.001), accompanied by widespread fiber fragmentation. The mean thickness of the central elastic cartilage layer decreased from 1.15 ± 0.12 mm in early adulthood to 0.78 ± 0.08 mm in the advanced age group (p < 0.01), coupled with focal chondrocyte hypertrophy and matrix calcification. Furthermore, CD31 immunoreactivity revealed a 42.1% drop in mucosal microvascular density within aging specimens. These quantitative metrics reveal a clear structural decline, demonstrating that the aging epiglottis undergoes significant fibroelastic degradation and vascular involution, which can alter its biomechanical protection of the airway during swallowing.

Keywords: Epiglottis, Histomorphometry, Elastic Cartilage, CD31, Microvascular Density, Aging

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 22, 2026; Revised: September 17, 2026; Accepted: September 26, 2026; Published: September 30, 2026

Citation: Ericsson L.M., & Lindstrom S.O. (2026). Histomorphometric and Vascular Assessment of the Human Epiglottis Across Different Decades of Adult Life. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 15(9), 449–460. DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000205

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