Influence of preload and afterload on genioglossus muscle length in awake goats

摘要

The genioglossus is an upper airway dilator muscle, the length of which is directly related to patency in the oropharyngeal region. We hypothesized that genioglossal length (Lgg) is dynamically influ- enced by the afterload exerted by negative upper airway pressure during inspiration and by the in- trinsic length-tension characteristics of the muscle (preload). Seven awake goats were chronically in- strumented with electrodes for EMGgg and sonomicrometry for Lgg.