Neuromuscular Alterations of Upper Airway Muscles in Patients with OSAS: Radiological and Histopathological Findings

Abstract

This article reviews studies of upper airway muscles in humans, observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). These studies include neuromuscular abnormalities of the upper airway muscles, along with changes of the upper airway lumen which is narrower in patients with OSAS than normal subjects. Several approaches have been made in the imaging of the upper airway using X-ray, CT, and MRI in order to characterize the severity of OSAS. Up to date results on histopathology of the muscles across with nervous lesions, are also reviewed.