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Endoscopic investigation of the palatopharyngeal muscular anatomy of the great apes: Anatomic models for the study of obstructive sleep apnea etiology
Author(s) -
adar tony,
Papaxanthos Michael,
Lawson William,
Pagano Anthony S,
Petit Thierry
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.455.3
Subject(s) - gorilla , soft palate , anatomy , medicine , airway , etiology , obstructive sleep apnea , hyoid bone , biology , pathology , surgery , paleontology
Laryngeal descent and external basicranial flexion create an upper respiratory tract ideal for spoken language, but predispose humans to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA may be related to soft palate flaccidity and length, as well as a failure of its paramedian resorption, causing airway collapse. To this end, non‐human hominoids (great apes) were used as anatomic models for a structural configuration divergent from humans. There exist no documented cases of OSA among great apes, likely a result of their upper respiratory tract anatomy. Endoscopic examination was performed on a sample of adult Pan troglodytes (n=1), Pongo pygmaeus (n=1), Gorilla gorilla (n=1), neonate Gorilla gorilla (n=1) and Hylobates sp. (n=1) from La Palmyre Zoo in Les Mathes, France. Great apes exhibited marked soft palate length, which expanded posteriorly in a nearly horizontal orientation—as opposed to the comparatively vertical orientation of humans—to cover a relatively deep nasopharynx. Uvular projection from the palatopharyngeal arch was short compared to humans. The neonates, however, displayed more shallow nasopharynges and vertical soft palate and palatopharyngeal arch orientations, similar to humans. Future studies should investigate whether OSA related to airway constriction at the fauces is prevented in great apes by a greater nasopharyngeal depth and reduced palatopharyngeal and surrounding soft tissue flaccidity. Grant Funding Source : alumni association