title: Physiology of sleep disordered breathing.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from complex interactions between anatomy and physiology. A structurally small and abnormally collapsible upper airway predisposes to disease, and interacts with normal and pathologic physiologic mechanisms to determine severity of disease. Understanding the pathophysiology provides insight into airway collapse, and may improve treatment and lead to potential new medical and surgical treatments for OSA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin at Froedtert West, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. bwoodson@mcw.edu
authors.forename: B Tucker
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Woodson
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D002508:Cephalometry; D006801:Humans; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000503:physiopathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology