Cicatricial and congenital membranes of the larynx are generally found in the anterior portion of the glottic chink, joining the part of the vocal cords nearer to their anterior insertion. They are very rarely an obstacle to breathing, but they disturb phonation in variable degree.
Congenital membranes, known as palmate membranes because of their likeness to the interdigital membranes of web-footed animals, are of membranous consistency, not very thick, and easy to section.
Cicatricial membranes, caused by accidental or operative trauma (laryngofissure), are hard, fibrous, and thick.
Cicatricial membranes are principally seen in adults, especially those which are the result of an operation, such as the extirpation of an epithelioma of a vocal cord by laryngofissure or of an epithelioma of the anterior commissure by Tapia's frontal operation or a modification of it.
It is very simple to cut a laryngeal membrane by means of the endoscopic method, especially if