Activity of respiratory pump and upper airway muscles during sleep onset

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 85; no. 3; pp. 908 - 920
• Main Authors: Worsnop, Christopher, Kay, Amanda, Pierce, Robert, Kim, Young, Trinder, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01-09-1998; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Airway Resistance - physiology; Anatomy & physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiorespiratory control. Arterial mecano- and chemoreceptor; Electromyography; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intercostal Muscles - physiology; Male; Muscular system; Polysomnography; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Respiratory Muscles - physiology; Respiratory system; Sleep; Sleep - physiology; Vertebrates: respiratory system; Human; Sleep; Respiratory muscle; Upper respiratory tract; Intercostal muscle; Smooth muscle; Diaphragm; Pulmonary ventilation; Respiratory control; Genioglossus muscle; Respiratory system
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1998.85.3.908

1  Department of Respiratory
Medicine, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg,
Victoria 3084; and 2  School of
Behavioural Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville,
Victoria 3052, Australia
Ventilation
decreases at sleep onset. This change is initiated abruptly at -
electroencephalographic transitions. The aim of this study was to
determine the contributions of reduced activity in respiratory pump
muscles and upper airway dilator muscles to this change. Surface
electromyograms over the diaphragm (Di) and intercostal muscles and
fine-wire intramuscular electrodes in genioglossus (GG) and tensor
palatini (TP) muscles were recorded in nine healthy young men. It was
shown that phasic Di and both phasic and tonic TP activities were lower
during  than during  activity. Breath-by-breath analysis of the
changes at - transitions during the sleep-onset period showed a
number of changes. At - transitions, phasic activity of Di,
intercostal, and GG muscles fell and rose again, and phasic and tonic
activities of TP fell and remained at low levels during . With a
state transition from  to , the phasic and tonic activities of
the Di, GG, and TP increased dramatically. It is now clear that the
fall in ventilation that occurs with sleep is related to a fall in
activities of both upper airway dilator muscles and respiratory pump
muscles.
diaphragm; intercostals; genioglossus; tensor palatini; upper
airway resistance