Morphological assessments of the oropharyngeal isthmus in professional singing

Abstract

Background

and Aims We conducted this research motivated by the incomplete knowledge of the changes made by resonance and harmonic filtering processes made by articulatory gestures in the supralar-yngeal level of the vocal tract. Aim of research The goal of the study is to evaluate the adaptive changes taking place at the oropharyngeal isthmus during sustained phonation. Methods We focused on exploring the dynamics of the oropharyngeal pavilion in voice professionals using Cone-Beam Computed Tomogra-phy (CBCT). Our study included 14 women with soprano vocals and 12 tenor men in 3 different situations: mimed phonation in a neutral position, sustained phonation on vowel /i/, which brings the larynx in a high position and sustained phonation on the vowel /ä/ which brings the larynx in a low position. Resutlts We observed particular traits of the professional soprano voice, developing as a series of motor patterns that allows the singers to emit high-pitched sound and to maintain them for a long period of time. Our results show that the lateral wall of the isthmic space addapts differently to phonation requirement after adequate and prolonged vocal training. s Vocal training seems to play a determining role in the functional synergy between the pillars of the palatine veil, which can be observed as a motor pattern. Conclusions All the linear and volumetric differences we highlighted show important anatomical and functional diffe-rences among opera singers, which depend both on the gender of the subject and on their respective trai-ning period. The results of our study have direct applicability in practice, addressed to the field of otorhi-nolaryngology, anatomy, physiology, radiology, canto and phoniatry.