The influence of gravity on respiratory kinematics during phonation measured by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

TY - JOUR

T1 - The influence of gravity on respiratory kinematics during phonation measured by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

AU - Traser, Louisa

AU - Schwab, Carmen

AU - Burk, Fabian

AU - Özen, Ali Caglar

AU - Burdumy, Michael

AU - Bock, Michael

AU - Richter, Bernhard

AU - Echternach, Matthias

N1 - © 2021. The Author(s).

PY - 2021/11/25

Y1 - 2021/11/25

N2 - Respiratory kinematics are important for the regulation of voice production. Dynamic MRI is an excellent tool to study respiratory motion providing high-resolution cross-sectional images. Unfortunately, in clinical MRI systems images can only be acquired in a horizontal subject position, which does not take into account gravitational effects on the respiratory apparatus. To study the effect of body posture on respiratory kinematics during phonation, 8 singers were examined both in an open-configuration MRI with a rotatable gantry and a conventional horizontal MRI system. During dynamic MRI the subjects sang sustained tones at different pitches in both supine and upright body positions. Sagittal images of the respiratory system were obtained at 1-3 images per second, from which 6 anatomically defined distances were extracted to characterize its movements in the anterior, medium and posterior section of the diaphragm as well as the rip cage (diameter at the height of the 3rd and 5th rip) and the anterior-posterior position of the diaphragm cupola. Regardless of body position, singers maintained their general principles of respiratory kinematics with combined diaphragm and thorax muscle activation for breath support. This was achieved by expanding their chest an additional 20% during inspiration when singing in the supine position but not for sole breathing. The diaphragm was cranially displaced in supine position for both singing and breathing and its motion range increased. These results facilitate a more realistic extrapolation of research data obtained in a supine position.

AB - Respiratory kinematics are important for the regulation of voice production. Dynamic MRI is an excellent tool to study respiratory motion providing high-resolution cross-sectional images. Unfortunately, in clinical MRI systems images can only be acquired in a horizontal subject position, which does not take into account gravitational effects on the respiratory apparatus. To study the effect of body posture on respiratory kinematics during phonation, 8 singers were examined both in an open-configuration MRI with a rotatable gantry and a conventional horizontal MRI system. During dynamic MRI the subjects sang sustained tones at different pitches in both supine and upright body positions. Sagittal images of the respiratory system were obtained at 1-3 images per second, from which 6 anatomically defined distances were extracted to characterize its movements in the anterior, medium and posterior section of the diaphragm as well as the rip cage (diameter at the height of the 3rd and 5th rip) and the anterior-posterior position of the diaphragm cupola. Regardless of body position, singers maintained their general principles of respiratory kinematics with combined diaphragm and thorax muscle activation for breath support. This was achieved by expanding their chest an additional 20% during inspiration when singing in the supine position but not for sole breathing. The diaphragm was cranially displaced in supine position for both singing and breathing and its motion range increased. These results facilitate a more realistic extrapolation of research data obtained in a supine position.

KW - Adult

KW - Biomechanical Phenomena

KW - Diaphragm/diagnostic imaging

KW - Female

KW - Gravitation

KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods

KW - Male

KW - Motion

KW - Phonation/physiology

KW - Posture

KW - Respiration

KW - Respiratory Rate

KW - Respiratory System/diagnostic imaging

KW - Singing/physiology

KW - Supine Position

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-02152-y

DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-02152-y

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 34824315

VL - 11

JO - SCI REP-UK

JF - SCI REP-UK

SN - 2045-2322

IS - 1

M1 - 22965

ER -