Glossary of Terms

Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Glossary of Terms

• Adenoid – single midline lymph gland above the soft palate at the very back of the nose.
• Apnea – absence of breathing.
• BMI – body mass index, a height and weight adjusted quotient used for assessing obesity.
• Epiglottis – soft tissue flap covering the vocal cords at the base of the tongue.
• Hypopnea – decreased breathing with at least 50% reduction in air flow.
• Larynx – “voice box” consisting of laryngeal cartilage or “Adam's apple” and the underlying vocal cords.
• LSAT – lowest oxygen saturation, normal saturation at least 95%.
• Mandible – lower jaw bone.
• Maxilla – upper jaw bone.
• Nasal Septum – the internal midline partition dividing the nose into right and left nasal chambers.
• RDI – respiratory disturbance index, a measure of OSA severity that averages the number of apnea and hypopnea events in a given hour. 20-40 mild, 40-60 moderate, >60 events per hour, severe.
• Retrognathia – small lower jaw and chin that predispose to airway blockage at the tongue base.
• Sleep architecture – characteristic EEG pattern of the frequency and duration of the different stages of sleep.
• Soft palate – movable part of roof of mouth.
• Turbinates – paired ridges in both nasal cavities that can get swollen in response to allergy.
• Tonsils – paired mounds of lymph glands on each side of the throat.
• Uvula – small midline dangling part of the soft palate.
• CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.