A 63-year-old man is subjected to a sleep study in which he is closely monitored for the duration of the night. Several physiologic parameters are continuously recorded, including oxygen saturation, heart rhythm, cerebral electrical activity, respiratory airflow, and movements of the chest and upper abdominal walls. The graph below depicts a recording obtained over several minutes: Which of the following is the most likely cause of the observed findings?

Question

A 63-year-old man is subjected to a sleep study in which he is closely monitored for the duration of the night. Several physiologic parameters are continuously recorded, including oxygen saturation, heart rhythm, cerebral electrical activity, respiratory airflow, and movements of the chest and upper abdominal walls. The graph below depicts a recording obtained over several minutes:  Which of the following is the most likely cause of the observed findings?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, is characterized by recurrent obstruction of the upper airways.  Relaxation of the oropharyngeal and/or soft palate musculature during sleep results in a functional collapse of the airway, producing periods of reduced (hypopnea) or absent (apnea) airflow despite continued breathing efforts.

A 63-Year-Old Man Is Subjected to a Sleep Study in Which