Movement of the human upper airway during inspiration with and without inspiratory resistive loading

2011 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cheng ◽  
J. E. Butler ◽  
S. C. Gandevia ◽  
L. E. Bilston
Keyword(s):  
Soft Palate ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Spatial Modulation ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Anterior Border ◽  
Resistive Loading ◽  
Airway Walls ◽  
Upper Airway Muscles ◽  
The Relationship

The electromyographic (EMG) activity of human upper airway muscles, particularly the genioglossus, has been widely measured, but the relationship between EMG activity and physical movement of the airway muscles remains unclear. We aimed to measure the motion of the soft tissues surrounding the airway during normal and loaded inspiration on the basis of the hypothesis that this motion would be affected by the addition of resistance to breathing during inspiration. Tagged MR imaging of seven healthy subjects was performed in a 3-T scanner. Tagged 8.6-mm-spaced grids were used, and complementary spatial modulation of magnetization images were acquired beginning ∼200 ms before inspiratory airflow. Deformation of tag line intersections was measured. The genioglossus moved anteriorly during normal and loaded inspiration, with less movement during loaded inspiration. The motion of tissues at the anterior border of the upper airway was nonuniform, with larger motions inferiorly. At the level of the soft palate, the lateral dimension of the airway decreased significantly during loaded inspiration (−0.15 ± 0.09 and −0.48 ± 0.09 mm during unloaded and loaded inspiration, respectively, P < 0.05). When resistance to inspiratory flow was added, genioglossus motion and lateral dimensions of the airway at the level of the soft palate decreased. Our results suggest that genioglossus motion begins early to dilate the airway prior to airflow and that inspiratory loading reduces the anterior motion of the genioglossus and increases the collapse of the lateral airway walls at the level of the soft palate.

Effect of Chemoreceptor and Pulmonary Receptor Stimulation on Dilator Nares EMG Activity in the Dog

1983 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 648-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Blum ◽  
Thomas V. McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
Upper Airway ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Receptor Stimulation ◽  
Lung Inflation ◽  
Anesthetized Dogs ◽  
Inspiratory Activity ◽  
Upper Airway Muscles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pulmonary Stretch Receptor ◽  
Stimulation Of

To define the relationship between central control of upper airway muscles and respiratory muscle function, the electromyographic responses of the dilator nares muscles to stimulation of chemoreceptors and pulmonary receptors were studied in six anesthetized dogs. Only at maximal levels of hypoxia was the inspiratory activity of the dilator nares significantly increased. Hypercapnic stimulation increased the inspiratory activity with each incremental increase in CO2. Pulmonary stretch receptor stimulation produced by lung inflation inhibited dilator nares activity. Pulmonary irritant receptor stimulation by intravenously administered histamine increased dilator nares activity, as did pulmonary J receptor stimulation by the intravenous administration of capsaicin.

Respiratory-related activity of soft palate muscles: augmentation by negative upper airway pressure

1994 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 424-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Van der Touw ◽  
N. O'Neill ◽  
A. Brancatisano ◽  
T. Amis ◽  
J. Wheatley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Palate ◽  
Airway Pressure ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Nasal Breathing ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Tracheal Pressure ◽  
Upper Airway Muscles ◽  
Muscle Responses

We studied respiratory-related activity of the soft palate muscles in 10 anesthetized tracheostomized supine dogs. Moving time average (MTA) electromyographic (EMG) activity was measured in the palatinus (PAL), levator veli palatini (LP), and tensor veli palatini (TP) with bipolar fine-wire electrodes and in the diaphragm with bipolar hook electrodes. Measurements were made during tracheostomy breathing and nasal breathing with the mouth sealed (NB). During tracheostomy breathing, all soft palate muscles displayed respiratory-related phasic inspiratory and expiratory as well as tonic EMG activity. During NB, peak inspiratory EMG activity increased in PAL, LP, and TP because of an increase in both phasic inspiratory and tonic MTA activity. In contrast, phasic expiratory activity did not change. A constant negative pressure equal to peak inspiratory tracheal pressure during NB was applied to the caudal end of the isolated upper airway with the nose occluded. This was associated with soft palate muscle responses qualitatively similar to the responses during NB but accounted for only 39, 25, and 32% of the magnitude of the peak inspiratory MTA EMG responses to NB in PAL, LP, and TP, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the soft palate muscles exhibit respiratory-related activity in common with other upper airway muscles. Furthermore, such activity is augmented in each soft palate muscle during NB, and negative upper airway pressure makes a substantial contribution to the recruitment of soft palate muscle activity.

Soft palate muscle activity in response to hypoxic hypercapnia

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 2600-2605 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Van der Touw ◽  
N. O'Neill ◽  
T. Amis ◽  
J. Wheatley ◽  
A. Brancatisano
Keyword(s):  
Soft Palate ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Respiratory Drive ◽  
Breathing Control ◽  
Fine Wire ◽  
Time Average ◽  
Reflex Control ◽  
Local Reflex

We studied the effects of increasing respiratory drive on electromyographic (EMG) soft palate muscle (SPM) activity in nine anesthetized tracheostomy-breathing dogs during hypoxic hypercapnia (HH) with a 14% O2–8% CO2–78% N2 inspired gas mixture. Moving time average EMG activity was recorded from palatinus (PAL), levator veli palatini (LP), and tensor veli palatini (TP) muscles (with bipolar fine-wire electrodes) and diaphragm (DIA; with bipolar hook electrodes). During HH, peak inspiratory DIA activity increased from 18.8 +/- 1.3 to 30.1 +/- 2.0 arbitrary units and minute ventilation increased from 6.2 +/- 0.3 to 18.3 +/- 1.8 l/min (both P < 0.001). Phasic inspiratory, expiratory, and/or tonic EMG activity was present in each SPM during room air breathing (control) and increased during HH (P < 0.05), except for phasic inspiratory PAL and phasic expiratory TP activities. Peak inspiratory LP and TP activities increased during HH to 250 and 179% of control, respectively, and peak expiratory activity increased to 187, 235, and 181% of control in PAL, LP, and TP, respectively. These findings demonstrate respiratory-related regulation of SPM activity independent of local reflex control from the upper airway. However, the combined inspiratory and expiratory phasic recruitment of these muscles differs from the inspiratory recruitment of known upper airway dilator muscles.

Effect of head and jaw position on respiratory-related motion of the genioglossus

2016 ◽  
Vol 120 (7) ◽  
pp. 758-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingshu Cai ◽  
Elizabeth C. Brown ◽  
Alice Hatt ◽  
Shaokoon Cheng ◽  
Lynne E. Bilston
Keyword(s):  
Mouth Opening ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Head Position ◽  
Spatial Modulation ◽  
Mandibular Advancement ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Quiet Breathing ◽  
Airway Patency ◽  
Head Flexion ◽  
Jaw Position

Head and jaw position influence upper airway patency and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the main upper airway dilator muscle, the genioglossus. However, it is not known whether changes in genioglossus EMG activity translate into altered muscle movement during respiration. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of head and jaw position on dilatory motion of the genioglossus in healthy adult men during quiet breathing by measuring the displacement of the posterior tongue in six positions—neutral, head extension, head rotation, head flexion, mouth opening, and mandibular advancement. Respiratory-related motion of the genioglossus was imaged with spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) in 12 awake male participants. Tissue displacement was quantified with harmonic phase (HARP) analysis. The genioglossus moved anteriorly beginning immediately before or during inspiration, and there was greater movement in the oropharynx than in the velopharynx in all positions. Anterior displacements of the oropharyngeal tongue varied between neutral head position (0.81 ± 0.41 mm), head flexion (0.62 ± 0.45 mm), extension (0.39 ± 0.19 mm), axial rotation (0.39 ± 0.2 mm), mouth open (1.24 ± 0.72 mm), and mandibular advancement (1.08 ± 0.65 mm). Anteroposterior displacement increased in the mouth-open position and decreased in the rotated position relative to cross-sectional area (CSA) ( P = 0.002 and 0.02, respectively), but CSA did not independently predict anteroposterior movement overall ( P = 0.057). The findings of this study suggest that head position influences airway dilation during inspiration and may contribute to variation in airway patency in different head positions.

Neuromuscular and mechanical responses to inspiratory resistive loading during sleep

1987 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 603-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Hudgel ◽  
M. Mulholland ◽  
C. Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Chest Wall ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Airway Resistance ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Inspiratory Muscle ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Upper Airway Resistance ◽  
Resistive Loading

The purposes of this study were 1) to characterize the immediate inspiratory muscle and ventilation responses to inspiratory resistive loading during sleep in humans and 2) to determine whether upper airway caliber was compromised in the presence of a resistive load. Ventilation variables, chest wall, and upper airway inspiratory muscle electromyograms (EMG), and upper airway resistance were measured for two breaths immediately preceding and immediately following six applications of an inspiratory resistive load of 15 cmH2O.l–1 X s during wakefulness and stage 2 sleep. During wakefulness, chest wall inspiratory peak EMG activity increased 40 +/- 15% (SE), and inspiratory time increased 20 +/- 5%. Therefore, the rate of rise of chest wall EMG increased 14 +/- 10.9% (NS). Upper airway inspiratory muscle activity changed in an inconsistent fashion with application of the load. Tidal volume decreased 16 +/- 6%, and upper airway resistance increased 141 +/- 23% above pre-load levels. During sleep, there was no significant chest wall or upper airway inspiratory muscle or timing responses to loading. Tidal volume decreased 40 +/- 7% and upper airway resistance increased 188 +/- 52%, changes greater than those observed during wakefulness. We conclude that 1) the immediate inspiratory muscle and timing responses observed during inspiratory resistive loading in wakefulness were absent during sleep, 2) there was inadequate activation of upper airway inspiratory muscle activity to compensate for the increased upper airway inspiratory subatmospheric pressure present during loading, and 3) the alteration in upper airway mechanics during resistive loading was greater during sleep than wakefulness.

Soft palate muscle responses to negative upper airway pressure

1999 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Amis ◽  
N. O’Neill ◽  
J. R. Wheatley ◽  
T. van der Touw ◽  
E. di Somma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Palate ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Airway Pressure ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Afferent Activity ◽  
Afferent Pathways ◽  
Levator Veli Palatini ◽  
Anesthetized Dogs ◽  
Muscle Responses

The afferent pathways and upper airway receptor locations involved in negative upper airway pressure (NUAP) augmentation of soft palate muscle activity have not been defined. We studied the electromyographic (EMG) response to NUAP for the palatinus, tensor veli palatini, and levator veli palatini muscles in 11 adult, supine, tracheostomized, anesthetized dogs. NUAP was applied to the nasal or laryngeal end of the isolated upper airway in six dogs and to four to six serial upper airway sites from the nasal cavity to the subglottis in five dogs. When NUAP was applied at the larynx, peak inspiratory EMG activity for the palatinus and tensor increased significantly ( P< 0.05) and plateaued at a NUAP of −10 cmH2O. Laryngeal NUAP failed to increase levator activity consistently. Nasal NUAP did not increase EMG activity for any muscle. Consistent NUAP reflex recruitment of soft palate muscle activity only occurred when the larynx was exposed to the stimulus and, furthermore, was abolished by bilateral section of the internal branches of the superior laryngeal nerves. We conclude that soft palate muscle activity may be selectively modulated by afferent activity originating in the laryngeal and hypopharyngeal airway.

Influence of upper airway pressure oscillations on soft palate muscle electromyographic activity

1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1190-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brancatisano ◽  
T. Van der Touw ◽  
N. O'Neill ◽  
T. C. Amis
Keyword(s):  
Soft Palate ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Pressure Oscillations ◽  
Question Mark ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Fine Wire ◽  
The Mean

Snoring is characterized by high-frequency (30-50 Hz) pressure oscillations (HFPO) in the upper airway (UA). The soft palate is a major oscillating structure during snoring, and soft palate muscle (SPM) activity is an important determinant of velopharyngeal patency. Consequently, we examined the effect of artificial HFPO applied to the UA on the integrated electromyographic (EMG) activity of the SPMs in 11 supine mouth-closed anesthetized (pentobarbital sodium/chloralose) dogs breathing spontaneously via a tracheostomy. The EMGs of the palatinus (Pal; n = 11), levator veli palatini (LP; n = 9), and tensor veli palatini (TP; n = 8) were monitored with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes. Peak inspiratory and peak expiratory EMG activity was measured in arbitrary units (au) as the mean of five consecutive breaths. HFPO [+/- 4.5 +/- 0.4 (SE) cmH2O; 30 Hz inverted question mark applied at the laryngeal end of the isolated UA increased peak inspiratory EMG from 3.3 +/- 2.0 to 8.4 +/- 1.7 au (P < 0.05) for Pal and from 2.0 +/- 1.1 to 7.3 +/- 2.7 au (P < 0.05) for LP. For the TP, increases were evident in four dogs, but mean values for the group did not change (5.8 +/- 2.4 to 11.0 +/- 4.1 au, P = 0.5). The peak expiratory EMG did not change for any SPM (all P > 0.3). Thus HFPO applied to the UA augments inspiratory SPM activity. Reflex augmentation of SPM activity by HFPO may serve to dilate the retropalatal airway and/or stiffen the soft palate during inspiration in an attempt to stabilize UA geometry during snoring.

Optimal frequency range to analyze respiratory transfer impedance with six-element model

1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 2656-2664 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Tomalak ◽  
R. Peslin ◽  
C. Duvivier ◽  
C. Gallina
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Optimal Frequency ◽  
Tissue Properties ◽  
Transfer Impedance ◽  
Airway Walls ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

The aim of this investigation was to assess the optimal frequency range for analyzing respiratory transfer impedance (Ztr) in terms of tissue and airway mechanical properties using the six-element model of DuBois et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 8:587–594, 1956). Ztr was measured in nine healthy subjects from 2 to 64 Hz by studying the relationship between airway flow and pseudorandom pressure oscillations applied around the chest. The measurements were performed with and without two mechanical loads placed at the mouth: an added inertance of 1.4 Pa.s2.l-1 and an added resistance of 1.65 hPa.s.l-1. The data were corrected for the shunt effect of upper airway walls. The changes in Ztr induced by the loads were very consistent up to 56 Hz with the T-network topology assumed in DuBois's model; the agreement deteriorated at higher frequencies, presumably due to the difficulty of obtaining a homogeneous pressure field around the chest. The fit of the model to the data also worsened sharply at above 56 Hz. In the 2- to 56-Hz frequency range, similar values of the tissue and airway coefficients were obtained with and without the loads. In that frequency range the confidence intervals of the coefficients were better than 10%. We conclude that DuBois's model is valid from 2 to 56 Hz in healthy subjects and allows accurate partitioning of airways and tissue properties. In addition, we present evidence that the upper airway shunt negligibly influences Ztr data and the derived coefficients provided airway flow is measured with a low-impedance pneumotachograph.

Use of electrical vestibular stimulation to alter genioglossal muscle activity in awake cats

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
A.R. Anker ◽  
A. Ali ◽  
H.E. Arendt ◽  
S.P. Cass ◽  
L.A. Cotter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Round Window ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Continuous Current ◽  
Adult Cats ◽  
Upper Airway Muscles ◽  
Awake Cats ◽  
Stimulation Of

Prior work has shown that the vestibular system contributes to regulating activity of upper airway muscles including the tongue protruder muscle genioglossus. The goal of the present experiments was to determine whether electrical vestibular stimulation could potentially be used to alter genioglossal activity in awake animals. Six adult cats were instrumented for recording of EMG activity from genioglossus, abdominal musculature, and triceps. In addition, a silver ball electrode was implanted on the round window for stimulation of vestibular afferents. Subsequently, stimulation and recordings were conducted while animals were awake. In all cases, stimulation using single shocks or trains of pulses > 100 μA in intensity produced responses in all muscles, including genioglossus. The latency of the genioglossal response was approximately 12 msec, and delivering continuous current trains to the labyrinth chronically elevated the muscle's activity. Although a number of muscles were affected by the stimulus, animals experienced no obvious distress or balance disturbances. Vestibular stimulation remained effective in producing genioglossal responses until experiments were discontinued 1–2 months following onset. These data suggest that electrical vestibular stimulation could potentially be used therapeutically to alter upper airway muscle activity.

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