›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 493-499.

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Advances in Mechanisms of Upper Airway Obstruction

  

  • Received:2014-08-26 Revised:2014-10-01 Online:2015-06-28 Published:2015-07-01

Abstract: Upper air way is the primary conduit for passage of air into the lungs, whose collapse is closely related to sleep disordered breathing (SDB). This essay is to figure out the mechanism of upper airway regulation to help the diagnosis and treatment of SDB. This essay reviews the advances in upper airway regulation in four aspects: (1) upper airway anatomy, (2) the ability of upper airway dilator muscles to respond to rising intrapharyngeal negative pressure and increasing CO2 during sleep, (3) loop gain (ventilatory control instability), and (4) arousal threshold in response to respiratory stimulation. The treatment prospects of SDB are also discussed.

Key words: upper airway obstrcution, OSA, research advance

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