Analysis of the dynamic relationships between the lingual artery and lingual markers in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between the lingual artery and the lingual markers in tongue resting and extended positions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) for the clinical application of functional tongue surgery.


METHODS
Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the lingual artery was performed on 30 OSAHS patients using a 16-slice spiral CT scanner. The anatomical relationships between the lingual artery and the lingual markers were analyzed with the tongue in resting and extended positions using the CTA images.


RESULTS
The course of the lingual artery resembled the configuration of the Big Dipper constellation when the tongue was in a resting position. When the tongue was in a full-extended position, the majority of the lingual artery moved forward and upward with the hyoid and formed a "√" fashion. The positions of the tip of the greater horn of the hyoid changed with the tongue positions. While the relationship between the main lingual artery and the tip of the greater horn of the hyoid, as well as the distances between bilateral lingual arteries, remained constant in both tongue positions.


CONCLUSIONS
In conditions of dynamic tongue movement, the tip of the great horn of the hyoid and the lingual midline are constant anatomical markers to indicate the course of the lingual artery.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, 3 Qinchun East Road, Hangzhou, China.
Tie-ning
TN
Hou
Jinyan
J
Shao
Gaofeng
G
Wang
Hong
H
Ren
Bing
B
Cheng
D000328:Adult; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology