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6967757 
Journal Article 
Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) and castration: the case of the famous singer Farinelli (1705-1782) 
Belcastro, MG; Todero, A; Fornaciari, G; Mariotti, V; , 
2011 
Yes 
Journal of Anatomy
ISSN: 0021-8782
EISSN: 1469-7580 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
632-637 
21740437 
WOS:000296251100009 
The famous castrato singer Farinelli (1705-1782) was exhumed by our research group in July 2006 for the purpose of gaining some insight into his biological profile through a study of his skeletal remains. Farinelli was castrated before puberty to preserve the treble pitch of the boy's voice into adult life. His powerful and sweet voice became legendary. In spite of its bad preservation state, the skeleton displayed some interesting characteristics that are probably related to the effects of castration, including long limb-bones, persistence of epiphyseal lines and osteoporosis. In particular, the frontal bone was affected by severe hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI). This condition consists in a symmetrical thickening of the inner table of the bone. The epidemiology of HFI shows that it is relatively common in postmenopausal women but very rare in men. Men affected by this pathology suffer from diseases, syndromes or treatments causing androgen deficiency. In the case of Farinelli, castration was probably responsible for the onset and development of this lesion.