Hirano’s Cover-Body Model
- The Cover-Body model is a model initially described by Minoru Hirano in 1974 to explain the vibratory properties of the vocal cord.
- In his model, the 5 layers of the vocal cord can be reclassified into 3 sections based on their differing mechanical properties:
- A cover comprising of the epithelium and superficial lamina propria.
- A transition zone comprising the intermediate and deep lamina propria.
- A body comprised of the vocalis (also known as the thyroarytenoid).
- Hirano proposed that the contrasting masses and physical properties of the cover and the body cause them to vibrate at different rates. The interaction of these different layers allow for the control of vibration and sound at the level of the vocal folds.
Last updated October 27, 2022
