Relationship between epilarynx tube shape and the radiated sound pressure level during phonation is gender specific

Objective/hypothesis The aim of the study was to measure the morphology of the epilaryngeal tube during sustained phonation as a function of loudness variation and to compare subjects of different genders. Study design This is a prospective study. Methods Five female and five male classically trained singers were recorded by magnetic resonance imaging with simultaneous audio recordings while sustaining phonation at three different loudness conditions. Three-dimensional subsections of the vocal tract were segmented on multi-image-based cross-sections. Different volume and area measures were determined and their relation to sound pressure level and loudness condition was analyzed. Results Male singers tended to narrow the epilaryngeal tube when increasing sound pressure level whereas female singers did not. Conclusion Strategies of vocal tract adjustments during loudness variation in classical singing appear to be gender specific.