Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
[Pathologic changes of palatopharyngeal muscle in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]
Yu-xiao Li1, Xiao-guang He, Jin-ling Song
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650031, China.
Objective:
To study the pathologic changes of the palatopharyngeal muscles in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), the role of the above muscles in OSAHS pathogenesis was discussed.
Methods:
Thirty OSAHS patients receiving uvulopalatopharyngoplasty selected, and ten normal subjects without snoring as the control group. The successive longitudinal sections of palatopharyngeal muscle were stained for observing Troponin-I's content. All specimens were examined with transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) and light microscopy.
Results:
Twenty nine of 30 specimens obtained from OSAHS patients evaluated with TEM showed pathologic changes of different degrees. While 2 among 10 specimens in control group showed mild myofibril edema or hypertrophy, no pathologic changes shown in other specimens. Immunohistochemistrial results of all specimens sections stained for observing Troponin-I antibody have shown that negative grey degree value is 146.30 +/- 10.72 in study group and 107.50 +/- 4.81 in control group respectively. There is significant difference between these two groups (P < 0.05). The negative grey degree value of study groupl and study group2 are 143.12 and 148.80 respectively , no statistical difference (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Palatopharyngeal myelofibrosis may affect pharyngeal dilator muscles function, this could be one mechanism of upper airway collapsibility.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities:
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
