title: Relationship of the Cricothyroid Space with Vocal Range in Female Singers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the relationship between the anterior cricothyroid (CT) space at rest with vocal range in female singers. Potential associations with and between voice categories, age, ethnicity, anthropometric indices, neck dimensions, laryngeal dimensions, vocal data along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laryngeal dimensions anterior CT space and heights of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages were measured using ultrasound in 43 healthy, classically trained, female singers during quiet respiration. Voice categories (soprano and mezzo-soprano), age, ethnicity, weight, height, body mass index, neck circumference and length, anterior thyroid and cricoid cartilage heights, practice and performance vocal range, lowest and highest practice and performance notes along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main finding was that mezzo-sopranos have a significantly wider resting CT space than sopranos (11.6 mm versus 10.4 mm; P = 0.007). Mezzo-sopranos also had significantly lower "lowest and highest" performance notes than sopranos. There was no significant correlation between the magnitudes of the anterior CT space with vocal range. The participants with the narrowest and widest anterior CT space had similar vocal ranges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the CT space is not the major determinant of performance vocal range.
authors.affiliation: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.. Electronic address: bmpullon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pullon
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D063346:Singing; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cricothyroid space; Female singers; Larynx; Ultrasound; Vocal range