Multi-MUP Analysis of Palatal Muscles in Healthy Men

Abstract

Introduction: The palatal muscles play an important role in the patency of upper airway together with other pharyngeal muscles. Studying their function will be helpful for delineating the pathophysiology of disorders affecting the upper airway patency like obstructive sleep apne syndrome. Materials and Methods: Eight healthy volunteer men were involved in this study. Anthropological data and electromyographic (EMG) studies including the rise time, amplitude, duration, area, thickness, number of phases and turns of motor unit potentials (MUPs) were evaluated. Results: The mean age was 40.25±9.11 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.64±2.51 kg/m2, and the mean neck circumference was 36.75±2.49 cms. The rise time and duration of MUPs were shorter; the amplitude, area and thickness of MUPs were smaller in uvular muscle with a higher number of phases and turns in compared to palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles, though not significant. The older age was not correlated with any EMG variables. Both the BMI (rs=0.77, p<0.05) and the neck circumference (rs=0.76, p<0.05) were positively correlated with the number of phases of uvular muscle. Discussion: This study presents the quantitative multi-MUP analysis of palatal muscles; palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, and uvular muscles in healthy men. The quantitative multi-MUP analysis might increase the sensitivity and specificity of palatal electromyography.

Keywords

• Multi-MUP analysis
• palatal muscles
• palatoglossus
• palatopharyngeus
• uvula