A heavy smoker with years of voice abuse presents with a low-pitched, hoarse voice. Endoscopy shows bilateral polypoidal swelling of the true vocal cords. The fluid collection responsible accumulates in which space?

• A Space between the quadrangular membrane and the mucosa of the vestibular fold
• B Loose tissue of the subglottic region beneath the conus elasticus
• C Laryngeal saccule within the ventricle
• D Subepithelial connective tissue of the vocal ligament, between epithelium and vocal ligament ✓

Explanation

Reinke's space is the potential space of loose connective tissue lying between the stratified squamous epithelium of the vocal fold and the underlying vocal ligament. Oedema here, called Reinke's oedema, occurs in smokers and voice abusers and produces the characteristic low hoarse voice. The subglottic region is the site of dangerous oedema in children causing stridor, while the saccule and quadrangular membrane relate to the vestibular folds, not the true cords.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.