Hidden Anatomy of Opera Singers

Abstract

The history of research on the voice of opera soloists shows that there are certain functional features of the cranial nerves and cortical nerve centers. In this chapter, we review the most important findings in the field of canto voice neuroanatomy, which we corroborate with the results of our team research and experience. Our study focuses on the nerve structures involved in phonation at each level of the vocal formants: infraglottic, glottic, and oropharyngeal. We consider this research to have direct applicability in the fields of neurolaryngology, neuroscience, phoniatry, but also in the academic teaching. At the same time, the present study is a starting point for future research works on the anatomical and functional particularities of the structures involved during the act of phonation in canto soloists.