title: Sleep. 2: pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome.
abstract: The pathogenesis of airway obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome is reviewed. The primary defect is probably an anatomically small or collapsible pharyngeal airway, in combination with a sleep induced fall in upper airway muscle activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. rfogel@partners.org
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011312:Pressure; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology