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Cricothyroid joint type as predictor for vocal fold elongation in professional singers
Author(s) -
Storck Claudio,
Unteregger Fabian
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.26984
Subject(s) - elongation , larynx , vocal folds , singing , vowel , medicine , anatomy , audiology , physics , ultimate tensile strength , acoustics , speech recognition , materials science , computer science , composite material
Objective Vocal fold (VF) elongation vocal folds depends on two factors: the activity of the laryngeal muscles and the cricothyroid joint (CTJ). The aim of the study was to show the influence of the CTJ on VF elongation while singing a sustained vowel at different pitches. Study Design Prospective study. Methods Forty‐nine female professional singers (25 sopranos, 24 altos) were recruited. Three‐dimensional images of the larynx derived from high‐resolution computed tomography scanning were obtained at the mean speaking fundamental frequency (F0) and one (F1) and two octaves (F2) above this pitch. Results From F0 to F1, all three CTJ types showed equal elongation of the VF (type A: 14%, type B/C: 13%). From F1 to F2, VF elongation was 8% in singers with type A and 4% in those with type B/C ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion The stability of the CTJ directly influences VF during singing. This is the first study to show this relationship in vivo. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 128:1176–1181, 2018