Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharyngeal airway dimensions and their correlations among the craniocervical angle and skeletal patterns. Cephalometric radiographs were obtained from 300 patients (≥15 years of age), of whom 150 were male patients and 150 were female patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to their skeletal patterns. The following dimensions were measured: NP: nasopharyngeal airway; PS: shortest distance from the soft palate to the pharyngeal wall; MP: Me-Go line intersecting the pharyngeal airway; TS: shortest distance from posterior tongue to pharyngeal wall; LP: laryngopharyngeal airway; UE length: shortest distance from the uvula to the epiglottis; PW: width of soft palate; PL: length of soft palate; ANB angle; palatal angle; and craniocervical angle. Paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation were applied for statistical analysis. The null hypothesis was that there were no differences among skeletal patterns in terms of pharyngeal airway dimensions. The C4C2-SN angle of the Class II pattern (108.1°) was significantly greater than that of the Class III pattern (104.4°). The Class II PL was significantly longer than the Class III PL in the all patients and female patients groups. The ANB angle exhibited moderate positive correlation with palatal angle (r: 0.462) and moderate negative correlation with TS (r: -0.400) and MP (r: -0.415) length. No significant differences were found in vertical hyoid lengths among all skeletal patterns. Class III (PS, TS, and MP) lengths were significantly greater than Class I and Class II in the all patients group. Regarding the LP length, no significant difference was found in the all patients group. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. Class III had significantly greater pharyngeal airway dimensions (PS, TS, and MP) than Class I and Class II. In all skeletal patterns, NP length was moderately correlated with the palatal angle. The PS was weakly negatively correlated with the ANB and PL. The TS and MP were moderately negatively correlated with the ANB angle.
Highlights
The pharynx is crucial to respiration, deglutition, and vocalization
The nasopharynx and oropharynx are divided by the posterior soft palate of the upper jaw, whereas the oropharynx and laryngopharynx are divided by the tip of the epiglottis
The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx, which comprises a cavity above the soft palate and posterior nasal cavity, where the nasal passages, inner ear channel, and pharynx meet
Summary
The pharynx is a cone-shaped passage that links the oral and nasal cavities to the esophagus and the trachea. The pharynx is primarily composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The nasopharynx and oropharynx are divided by the posterior soft palate of the upper jaw, whereas the oropharynx and laryngopharynx are divided by the tip of the epiglottis. The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx, which comprises a cavity above the soft palate and posterior nasal cavity, where the nasal passages, inner ear channel, and pharynx meet. Handelman and Osborne [1] reported that the growth of the nasopharynx diameter continues to approximately 13 years of age. Vilella et al [2] reported that nasopharynx and adenoidal development growth peak may be reached 15 years of age
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