Which of the following describes the Tissue Model components?

• A. Layered tissue model includes epithelium, lamina propria, and muscle
• B. Tissue Model comprises mucosa, ligament, and muscle
• C. The 4-layer phonation model
• D. The tissue model uses epithelium and mucosa only

Answer: (B)

In this tissue framing, the focus is on how vocal fold tissue is grouped for understanding vibration. The Tissue Model described here breaks it into three functional parts: mucosa, ligament, and muscle. Mucosa is the outer surface, consisting of the epithelium plus the superficial lamina propria, which forms the flexible cover that slides during vibration. The ligament provides the stiffer middle layer that contributes to the tissue’s tension and stiffness, shaping how it vibrates. The muscle underneath, the vocalis, adds bulk and allows active control of tension and mass.

This three-part description—mucosa, ligament, and muscle—fits the common way clinicians and researchers model tissue in phonation, making it the best choice. Other descriptions that separate epithelium and lamina propria or that propose additional layers describe different models, but they do not align with the specific Tissue Model framing given here.