Pharyngeal Dimensions in Healthy Men and Women

Abstract

Daniel MM, Lorenzi MC, Leite C da C, Lorenzi-Filho G. Pharyngeal dimensions in healthy men and women. Clinics. 2007; 62(1):5-10. INTRODUCTION:Epidemiological studies reveal a high male prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A possible explanation for this male predominance is the existence of anatomical differences in the upper airway between men and women. METHODS:The upper airways of 10 male and 10 female healthy volunteers were prospectively evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Anatomical pharyngeal and column cross-sectional linear measurements were made in sagittal T1 and axial T1 and T2 weighted fast spin-echo images. RESULTS: Men had significantly greater mean sagittal pharyngeal structural dimensions compared to women for all structures with the exception of the craniocaudal length of the soft palate and the thickness of the submentonian fat. In contrast, crosssectional linear dimensions were similar in men and women with the exception of the laterolateral tongue length, which was greater in men. All mean linear measurements of the pharyngeal air column were similar in men and women at all studied levels. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women present pharyngeal air columns with similar dimensions, but in women this column is surrounded by smaller structures, which might imply a smaller effort to keep its patency. Our data suggest the existence of an anatomical protective factor in women against the upper airway collapse.

Anatomical Insight into the Muscle Petropharyngeus-a Supernumerary Muscle of the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall

“…This might have a role in obstructive sleep apnoea, abnormal swallowing, pharyngeal clearance, speech, respiratory modulation, dysphagia, cancer, pharyngeal reconstruction, pharyngoplasty etc. [2,4,7,10,[20][21][22][23]. Understanding the normal/abnormal anatomy and physiology of eating and swallowing is the fundamental keystone in evaluating and treating disorders, pertinent to the region and in developing programs for dysphagia rehabilitation.…”

Fonoaudiologia e apneia do sono: uma revisão

“…Em um estudo com voluntários com idade superior a 65 anos, nos paises de Sandiego e Califórnia para diagnosticar a SAHOS revelaram uma prevalência 24% 25,26 . A prevalência na população foi 5% acometendo 4% e 2% dos homens e mulheres respectivamente 27 . A explicação referida nas pesquisas realizadas para esta predominância é a diferença anatômica existente nas vias aéreas superiores entre homens e mulheres 28 .…”

Avaliação da faringe de pacientes portadores de apneia obstrutiva do sono, por meio da tomografia computadorizada multislice obtida em vigília e durante o sono

“…Técnicas de imagem das vias aéreas superiores têm promovido importante avanço na avaliação biomecânica da SAOS, auxiliando na escolha das diferentes condutas terapêuticas disponíveis, que incluem dispositivo de pressão contínua (CPAP), perda de peso, aparelhos dentários e cirurgia (5)(6)(7) .…”

“…Os fatores de risco para SAOS incluem obesidade e alterações anatômicas das vias aéreas superiores (VAS) como retrognatia, macroglossia, hipertrofia das tonsilas e alongamento do palato (7,8) . Tais …”

“…As medidas da língua mais comumente realizadas são o diâmetro anteroposterior, realizado num corte sagital na linha média, da ponta à base da língua, e o diâmetro laterolateral, que consiste na distância entre as margens laterais dos músculos hioglossos (7,10,60) .…”