Reinke

Reinke is a surname of German origin. It is borne by numerous individuals in various countries and fields, and may appear in historical records, scholarly publications, and contemporary biographies. As a surname, it has appeared in different spellings and transliterations, reflecting regional linguistic variations.

In anatomy and medicine, Reinke’s space refers to the superficial lamina propria of the vocal folds, a potential space located between the epithelium and the vocal ligament. This space can become filled with fluid in certain conditions, a process described as Reinke’s edema. Reinke’s edema is characterized by swelling of the vocal folds that often results in a deep or husky voice and can be associated with factors such as smoking, vocal abuse, or inflammatory disease. The term is named after a physician with the surname Reinke who described the region and its pathology in the larynx.

Beyond people and medicine, Reinke is also used as a brand name in agriculture, particularly for irrigation equipment. The Reinke brand is associated with center-pivot irrigation systems and related products and services, used by farmers to distribute water over fields efficiently.