Inspiratory tongue dilatory movement is believed to be mediated via changes in neural drive to genioglossus. However, this has not been studied during quiet breathing in humans. Therefore, this study investigated this relationship and its potential role in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). During awake supine quiet nasal breathing, inspiratory tongue dilatory movement, quantified with tagged magnetic resonance imaging, and inspiratory phasic genioglossus EMG normalised to maximum EMG were measured in nine controls [apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≤5 events/h] and 37 people with untreated OSA (AHI >5 events/h). Measurements were obtained for 156 neuromuscular compartments (85%). Analysis was adjusted for nadir epiglottic pressure during inspiration. Only for 106 compartments (68%) was a larger anterior (dilatory) movement associated with a higher phasic EMG [mixed linear regression, beta = 0.089, 95% CI [0.000, 0.178], t(99) = 1.995, P = 0.049, hereafter EMG↗/mvt↗]. For the remaining 50 (32%) compartments, a larger dilatory movement was associated with a lower phasic EMG [mixed linear regression, beta = −0.123, 95% CI [−0.224, −0.022], t(43) = −2.458, P = 0.018, hereafter EMG↘/mvt↗]. OSA participants had a higher odds of having at least one decoupled EMG↘/mvt↗ compartment (binary logistic regression, odds ratio [95% CI]: 7.53 [1.19, 47.47] (P = 0.032). Dilatory tongue movement was minimal (>1 mm) in nearly all participants with only EMG↗/mvt↗ compartments (86%, 18/21). These results demonstrate that upper airway dilatory mechanics cannot be predicted from genioglossus EMG, particularly in people with OSA. Tongue movement associated with minimal genioglossus activity suggests co-activation of other airway dilator muscles.

吸气时舌头的扩张运动被认为是通过颏舌肌神经驱动的变化来介导的。然而，尚未在人类安静呼吸时对此进行研究。因此，本研究调查了这种关系及其在阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停 (OSA) 中的潜在作用。在 9 名对照组 [呼吸暂停低通气指数 (AHI) ≤ 5 次事件/小时] 和 37 名受试者中，测量了清醒仰卧安静鼻呼吸、吸气舌扩张运动（通过标记磁共振成像量化）和标准化至最大肌电图的吸气相颏舌肌肌电图。患有未经治疗的 OSA（AHI > 5 次事件/小时）。获得了 156 个神经肌肉室 (85%) 的测量结果。分析根据吸气期间的最低会厌压力进行调整。仅 106 个隔室 (68%) 较大的前向（扩张）运动与较高的相位 EMG 相关 [混合线性回归，beta = 0.089，95% CI [0.000, 0.178]， t (99) = 1.995， P = 0.049 ，以下简称肌电图↗/mvt↗]。对于其余 50 个 (32%) 隔室，较大的扩张运动与较低的相位肌电图相关 [混合线性回归，beta = -0.123, 95% CI [-0.224, -0.022]， t (43) = -2.458， P = 0.018，以下为 EMG↘/mvt↗]。 OSA 参与者具有至少一个解耦 EMG↘/mvt↗ 室的几率较高（二元 Logistic 回归，比值比 [95% CI]：7.53 [1.19, 47.47] ( P = 0.032)。 舌头运动缓慢 (> 1 mm），几乎所有仅使用 EMG↗/mvt↗ 室的参与者（86%，18/21）这些结果表明，无法通过颏舌肌肌电图预测上呼吸道扩张力学，尤其是 OSA 患者。 与最小的颏舌肌活动相关的舌头运动表明其他气道扩张肌的共同激活。