Abstract
The activation of upper airway (UAW) muscles is believed to increase UAW patency to air flow. To evaluate the mechanisms by which UAW muscles act to prevent UAW collapse, pressure-flow relationships of the isolated UAW as well as the negative pressure required to cause UAW collapse (P crit) were assessed before and during electrical stimulation of four UAW muscle pairs in anesthetized dogs. Stimulation of each of the muscles shifted the pressure-flow curve toward lower pressures for any given flow rate, indicating UAW dilatation. UAW resistance decreased from 7.9 ± 0.6 to 0.4 ± 0.1, 2.7 ± 0.6, 2.3 ± 0.8 and to 4.8 ± 1.5 cmH 2O·L −·sec during genioglossus, geniohyoid, sternothhroid and sternohyoid stimulation respectively ( P<0.01). However, only genioglossus stimulation significantly increase P crit (from −3.4±0.6 to −12.0±1.8 cmH 2O, P < 0.001) Relaxation of the genioglossus thus appears to produce the main impediment to air flow through the UAW, and contraction of this muscle improves UAW patency both by dilating the supraglottic airway and by stiffening its walls.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callSimilar Papers
More From: Respiration Physiology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
