. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Dec 1.

Published in final edited form as: Sleep Med Rev. 2008 Oct 31;12(6):481–496. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2007.11.003

Summary Table III.

Evolutionary anatomic changes associated with OSA

Short maxilla and mandible

Short ethmoid and palate

Smaller teeth

Anterior foramen magnum

Acute cranial base angulation

Oropharyngeal tongue

Descended larynx

Shortened soft palate

Loss of epiglottic – soft palate lock up

Narrow, distensible supralaryngeal vocal tract (SVT)

1:1 ratio of SVT_H: SVT_v